#No Gonta or Ryoma yet cause I’m still figuring out what to do with them

[allykakamatsu]

FE SS X DRV3 General plot

Once again, I’m back on my bulls**t. Got the basics for the AU sorted now so let’s take a look, as well as what most of the characters are doing

Plot Outline:

As I mentioned in the first post https://allykakamatsu.tumblr.com/post/649470604067717120/fe-ss-x-drv3 the reason the class is in Magvel in the first place is because Monokuma decided that trapping them in the game was gonna be the motive, where you either have to end the war/beat the game or kill someone from the real world in order to get out. The characters got sent to various points in the timeline, and as you can imagine, this changed quite a lot.

Shuichi Saihara:

•The last one to wake up, aka got sent to when the game starts rather than some time before like the others.

•Ends up unintentionally becoming Eirika’s bodyguard as they run into each other while the Princess is trying to get to Frelia and Seth has gone missing dun dun dun

•Sticks around as Eirika knows where Kaede is and because he doesn’t want to leave her on her own.

•Can use magic, but still needs to work on his aim. Aka, never let him fight an enemy that’s near a tree.

•Still better than when he uses a Lance, he just stabs wildly and hope it works

•Because he doesn’t get the pre-war time everyone else had to get ready, he does get the advantage of remembering other things, though they’re things he’d rather not remember.

Kaede Akamatsu:

•Was sent to Renais and ended up getting adopted by the royals, so she’s the Twin’s step-sister.

•Despite her accidental new status, doesn’t change too much, and enjoys her time with her new family even if she’s always scarred about when the war will start

•As such, she’s also very overprotective and always goes with Ephriam to his dumb stunts, under the guise of being all for it.

•Very over dramatic organ player.

•Like Eirika she’s good with swords, but tends to specialise in staffs.

•Is part of Ephriams four (well now five) man army trying to take Grado down.

Maki Harukawa:

•Woke up in Jehana but didn’t stick around for long due to not liking the heat.

•Ended up travelling with Tenko for a while as travelling mercenaries, but when Maki’s work started leaning on the assassin side again she left so the Aikido Master wouldn’t get involved.

•After that becomes an assassin for hire, and she works for people all over the continent, including with Rausten which (unfortunately) led to her seeing Kokichi again

•”If it wasn’t for the fact your Princess hired me I’d kill you”

•Eventually after several jobs making her infamous, she was hired by Kirumi to help protect Eirika.

•Agreed, and was extra motivated due to Shuichi being dragged into this.

Himiko Yumeno:

•One of only two who was over the moon to be sent to Magvel, because now she has real MAGIC

•Winds up in Lute and Arthur’s village, where she joins their friend group to become master Mages.

•Constantly getting on Lute’s nerves for napping during practice.

•More energetic than usual, but that just means when she’s out she’s out for the count.

•Specialises in thunder magic, but that’s mostly not to steal Lute’s thunder, well, fire in this case.

•Goes with Arthur to get help when the village is attacked by monsters to “make sure they don’t claw him to death”

Angie Yonaga:

•Ends up becoming a priestess in Grado.

•Doesn’t really like spreading the word of non-Atua figures, but sticks around because Atua said so.

•Also leads to her becoming friends with Natasha and also ‘friends’ with Cormag

•Was already growing weary of the Empire when she heard about the war, but when Natasha was branded a traitor she knew something was up and went after her.

•Still always smiling, which depending on the person is a relief to see someone keeping their hopes up, or disturbing cause “does she ever not smile?”

•Mostly a light magic user, but can heal and not afraid to staff bonk.

Kirumi Tojo:

•Was sent to Frelia and became a servant at the castle very fast.

•Joined the staff only a few days before ‘The Frelian Tragedy’ where the crown Prince was kidnapped and presumed dead.

•Because of this and the King being so busy, Kirumi ended up being the one to console the young Princess Tana.

•Ended up becoming a mother/big sister figure and was offered a change of position as the nanny. Ended up taking it and staying on maid duty, and eventually rose to head maid.

•More open with her emotions, but still quite reserved.

•Can use all weapons well, but prefers spears and staffs.

Kokichi Oma:

•Not known where or when he first arrived, but after 3 years ended up in Rausten.

•Wound up as part of L’Arachel’s entourage due to his battle skills and her liking his attitude.

•Dream tam for each other, nightmare for everyone else.

•Was rumoured to be part of the Frelian Tragedy, but no one can prove it or knows how.

•With L’Arachel for most of the war, but ran off for a bit to drag Renac back

•A full blown trickster class, so swords and staffs for him.

Kiibo:

•Since Robots don’t exist, he’s a dragon now.

•Excited that he’s living and breathing, but scarred because “How did I change species?!”

•Eventually finds Myrrh and she thankfully sets things straight.

•Proud of his new species, but does miss his old life.

•When Selena steals her dragon stone, he tries to get it back, only to get caught in some trees while in dragon form.

•After that accompanies her on Ephriam and Kaede’s path to get the stone back.

Rantaro Amami:

•A former wyvern rider turned pegasus knight

•Yes, somehow he got a pegasus to trust him enough to let him ride, to the confusion of everyone else.

•Was with Grado for a while, but jumped ship to Jehana about three years before the war.

•When he learned that the Queen’s son had run away, his big brother instincts kicked in and he volunteered to find him.

•His search eventually led to Carcino where he found Joshua alone with the rest of Eirika’s party.

•Agreed to tag along so he could keep an eye on the gambling Prince and so he could help out Shuichi.

•Good with lances, but way better with flying.

Miu Iruma:

•A wyvern rider from Grado, though an unconventional one (I mean, it’s Miu)

•She and Rantaro were part of the same squad, but she stayed unlike him.

•Good at making all her allies lives a living hell with her antics (RIP Cormag) but she’s kept around due to her skill

•Saw Valter kill Glenn, but while trying to tell Cormag, got sidetracked by seeing Selena try to take Kiibo’s dragonstone, which made her go “F**k it”, swear the Flurspar out, and switched sides to team Ephriam.

•The only wyvern who uses an axe. Everyone calls her crazy for it but hey, whatever works.

Tenko Chabishira:

•Was in Renais at first, but after being ditched by Maki she went to Jehana due to her unsurprisingly wanting to be in the nation lead by a queen rather than a king like the rest.

•Ends up bumping into Marisa on a job, and once it’s over she convinces Tenko to join the Mercenaries.

•Loves Tethys and Marisa, so she stays no matter what, but she does eventually get some respect for Gherik.

•Doesn’t stop her from thinking somethings up with Kiyo and the new recruit who won’t take his mask off.

•Would’ve joined up with team Eirika either way since everyone else agreed, Himiko being there just made her a lot more aggressive with it.

•Axes all the way baby!

Korekiyo Shinguji:

•Wound up in Caer Pelyn, which royally confused everyone, but they kinda just rolled with it.

•Stayed due to his interest in the village, but when he was about to leave Ewan stopped by, and after a misunderstanding about why he wanted to leave Kiyo gets dragged into the mercenaries.

•At first only stayed due to wanting to send his sister more ‘friends’, but after seeing Tethys and Ewan act like how siblings are supposed to act, he realised how badly he screwed up, so he ends up sticking around to find out what real siblings are meant to do.

•Gladly joins up with team Eirika once they show up not only to stay with his allies, but also to get some more ‘sibling role models’

•Good with dark magic and staffs, but is in the summoner class..... be very afraid.

Kaito Momota:

•Woke up in Carcino, but after realising the guys in charge were assholes, he left and started travelling all over as a mercenary.

•After seeing Ephriam and Kaede storm a castle with 5 people total and win, he got the bright idea to become a masked hero busting innocents Grado captured out of jail and just generally be a thorn in their side.

•Formed a bit of a partnership with Kokichi because of this cause hey, where else in Magvel are you going to get smoke bombs.

•Eventually met Lyon, and after they explained what was going on to him, Kaito decided to risk it all on them as he let himself get caught to help bust Knoll out of jail, which worked, albeit with a lot of extra help from team Ephriam.

•All and all, more or less the same, just in WAY over his head.

•Of course he’s in the Hero class, so that means swords and axes.

Tsumugi Shirogane:

•The only one who’s played the game before, and easily the most excited, especially as she ended up in Grado and to be more specific as Lyon’s adopted sister.

•Thought she could get everything she wanted due to this being a game, but ended up having a bit of an existential crisis when the world turns out to be harder to manipulate and more real then she thought.

•Not wanting to accept that fiction can be real to, decided to take the demon kings power that wasn’t in Lyon (this was before the stone was shattered so that means most of it) to try get control back.

•This, of course, backfires, as while her already wanting to cause chaos/drama meant she kept her sense of self for longer, her lie eventually crashed in as once Shuichi got her to accept that fiction can be real she got completely possessed.

•Has the same class as Lyon, though she’s less tanky in exchange for being faster, worth it when you’re dealing with dark tomes.

Well, that’s everything for now. Hope you enjoy!

[xxdanganronpa-stuffsxx]

DR3 boys react to an S/O being accused of murder in the killing game

For some reason Tumblr won’t let me respond to this one directly so I’m making a completely separate post so I hope whoever requested it sees it! Anyway this is super angsty and I hope y’all like it! sorry it took so long for me to get out bit this past weekend was pretty busy and this was a bit of a long one.

-mod korekiyo 

Shuichi Saihara

He’s confused

How could everyone be so blind

You are so sweet and kind, you could never kill someone!

You were terrified

You were pale and sweating

You gripped tightly to you podium

Everyone was yelling back and forth about how it had to be you

You had such a solid alibi but no one would believe you

You looked to Shuichi for help

He had been rather calm during the whole trial but the helpless look on your face broke him

“Alright listen up! S/o can’t be the murder! And I have solid evidence to proof it!”

Everyone went silent

No one had ever seen Shuichi so angry

“Listen, S/O was with me when ryoma was killed, and even monokuma can back up that fact, but that’s not all!”

You let out a sigh of relief

“Even if they would have snuck out and killed him, then himiko would have definitely seen them, which she said she didn’t”

Himiko nodded in agreement

You gave Shuichi a smile and thanked him

After the trial you were shaken up as always, everyone was

You hugged him tightly and buried you head in his neck

He rubbed your back mumbled small “I love you’s” into your ear

He was so scared that he would lose you

He was scared that he would lose everyone

Gonta Gokuhara

This boy was TERRIFIED

He can lose his S/O!

“S/O WOULD NEVER KILL!”

Everyone looked at him with pity

The poor man was a wreck

He tried making arguments but they all came out as incoherent sobs

You took a deep breath and tried to defend yourself

Normally no one would believe you, but they wanted to give Gonta some hope

That’s when the realized that the case didn’t actually make any sense if you were the killer

Gonta was so relieved

After the trial he picked you up of the ground and held you tightly

“S/O GONTA WAS SO SCARED!”

It took a lot of cuddles to calm him down

Ryoma hoshi

When your name was mentioned, he smiled

This is his sick punishment wasn’t it

He let himself become close to someone as pure as you and you became just like him

He blamed himself

He looked at you with tears in his eyes

“I’m sorry S/O, this is my fault”

“What?! No I didn’t do it!”

He wanted to believe you so badly

But part of him was still convinced that you had killed someone and now you were going to die and it was all his fault

“ S/O! Isn’t funny how things turn out so awfuly in the end?!”

He was laughing and crying

You’ve never seen him like this

He was hysterical

It scared you too see your nomaly rather stoic boyfriend like this

“Ryoma please calm down! I didn’t do it!”

He didn’t

You looked around in a panic

Your eyes filled with tears

You were hyperventilating, the room felt like it was spinning

“Please, I-I’m not the murder, ple-please believe me”

Everyone stopped to look at you

Shuichi noted how distressed you were and decided to look things over some more leading to the discover that miu was the killer the whole time

After the trial you and ryoma didn’t speak much until he pulled you into his room

He broke down

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry”

You fell to your knees and began sobbing into your hands

Neither of you were really ok after that

You can’t stop thinking about how he thought he had pushed you to murder

Did he really think that he was that bad

You two sat against the wall holding each other for a while, neither one wanting to let go

Kiibo

At first he believed them

When you were first accused he was shocked

All he could think was why

You were so nice, you were the only one who fully looked past the fact he was a robot and saw him only as himself

He was heartbroken

“S/O?.......”

“Kiibo it’s not true!”

“S/O why did you kill Angie!....”

You had been trying to stay calm and collected but now you broke down

Kiibo was trying to wrap his head around what was going on

He couldn’t figure out why you would do it

He didn’t think you would have any reason to do so

So why would you do it, it didn’t make any sense

“Wait!”

Everyone stopped and looked at him

“Why would S/O do it, they don’t have a motive, but korekiyo would!”

Soon after , everything fell into place

You both were extremely relieved

After the trial he started to avoid you

“Thank you so much for helping me out back there”

He didn’t respond

You tried to hug him but he backed away

“Kiibo, are you ok?”

“I’m a horrible boyfriend”

“What?! Where is this coming from?”

“I- i thought you killed someone!”

“ Ok i'll admit that it hurt when you accused me, but i don’t blame you for anything Kiibo!”

At this point you two were both sobbing

You hugged each other tightly, sobbing into each other shoulders

He just whispered “I’m sorry” and “love you” over and over again

You gladly accept his apology

Kaito Momota

He is MAD

How dare anyone think HIS S/O could ever kill anyone!

You were shocked

He watched you try to defend yourself but everyone just kept shutting your points down

It broke his heart to see this

He tried to defend you but his mind was too clouded by anger for him to make an actual argument

Eventually Shuichi realized that you couldn’t have been the killer

Kiato calmed down a bit but he was still snappy towards everyone but you during the trial

After the trial he was still on edge

You tried to calm him down but it seemed to just get more angry

“They could have killed everyone! Including you! And that killer would have just walked away from this place!”

He started to cry

You pulled him into a tight hug

He almost fell over but as soon as he regained his balance he hugged you tighter

“He kiato, please just calm down. I’m fine now, everything is fine”

He never really got over that trial but he’s just happy you’re ok

Rantaro Amami

Like Kiibo, he actually thought you were a murder

He was so distraught

He was going to lose you

He blamed no one but this killing game

He just looked down to the ground and let tears roll down his cheeks

“Wait? Rantaro you don’t actually think I killed someone right?”

he gave you a sad yet guilty look 

while the rest of the group discussed your motives, Rantoro stayed  looking at the ground

he couldn't look anyone in the eye

especially that god forsaken bear

he was just mad that this game had broken someone as sweet as you

you were struggling to defend yourself in the trail

no one really wanted to listen to what you had to say

“rantaro?!‘

“S/O?”

“rantaro i didn't do it please”

“I know, i'm sorry i don't want you to go but please just be honest! for me?”

“RANTARO SNAP OUT OF IT I'M NOT THE KILLER!”

he had never seen you snap like that

it scared him more than anything

but he knew you were serious and gave a second look at the case

luckily they were able to find the real killer and the trial ended

after the trial rantaro ran to you and hugged you from behind

he was still crying

he mumbled apologies into your shoulder in between sobs.

you accepted his apology and turned around to give him a proper hug

Korekiyo Shinguji

He upheld is calm nature the whole trial

Well almost the whole trial

When your name was brought up he was startled but he seemed ok

You tried to defend yourself

No one wanted to hear what you had to say

You looked at him to see if he could back you up

He gave a reassuring nod

He then simply tried to tell the group why you couldn’t be the killer

Emphasis on “tried”

He voice was shaky and quiet

no one believed him

Shuichi announced that he thinks it time to vote

Korekiyo PANICKED

“Wait!”

Everyone stopped and turned to him

“I-I’m the killer”

Everyone just stared at him confused

Well if you get out of here Alive you might beat up your boyfriend for pulling something like this

Although he did cause the group to take a second look at the case, saving everyone’s life

After the trial you grabbed his arm and pulled him aside

“Why would you do something like that we all could have died!”

To your surprise his eyes filled with tears

“I’m sorry S/O, I just couldn’t bare the thought of your death and I panicked!”

His voice was shaky and horse

It broke your heart to see him like this

You pulled your lanky boyfriend into a hug

He held tightly onto you, petting your hair with his bandaged hand

Kokichi ouma

You were argueing with everyone defending yourself

But no one would listen to a word you would say

Kokichi tried to defend you too but no one wanted to listen to him either

He looked defeated

You looked over to kokichi

He expression suddenly changed

He looked up and gave you a sly smile and winked

What on earth is your boyfriend up to

He instantly faked up some tears and sobs

“I guys you guys must be right”

He sobbed a bit before looked up at you

“How could you S/O!? I thought we were going to get out of here together?!”

You turned to him giving a “what on earth are you doing” look

You quickly turned around and stared blankly at everyone else hoping your boyfriend knew what he was doing

“I knew it was you from the very start S/O!”

What is he doing!?

“You and I were in your room with kiato and you left to go to the bathroom, that’s when you snuck off to kill Rantaro right?!”

Kiato nodded

“And then you came back at around 6:05 which is proven by this picture we took afterwards in which shows a clock reading 6:10, which would have given you enough time to commit the murder which was documented to have happened at 6:08!”

Kiato shot up with a relization

“Wait that doesn’t dosnt make sense!!”

Kokichi smirked

“Exactly, it took all that for you guys to actually listen!”

So that’s what he was doing

After the trial you gave him a big hug and thanked him

Although he won’t admit it, he was pretty terrified

[murdertrialimagines]

Accident

“How would the V3 boys react to finding themselves accidentally killing someone or killing out of self defense in a killing game? Bonus if Kiyo kills a man and Kaede has expose Shuichi in the trial!”

Oooh this sounds great! I have so many ideas for this! Story under the tag!

Shuichi Saihara

He didn’t mean for it to go this way

He had been plotting a trap to stop the mastermind with Kaede

He was in the library looking for good places to set the cameras while Kaede went to go get more tape to set them up

As he was moving books to create a hiding hole he heard the doorknob rattle

Quickly hiding behind a pile of books, Shuichi watched as the door opened, Rantaro stepping in

Was Rantaro the mastermind?

That wouldn’t make sense, unless his obsession with stopping the mastermind was a facade

Shuichi held his breath as Rantaro opened the hidden door, his suspicions confirmed

He had to do something! What if Kaede walked in and Rantaro attacked her?

He rushed from his hiding spot, running towards Rantaro

He grabbed his arm, earning a look from the boy

“Shuichi, what are you-”

Shuichi shoved him away from the door, noticing it close behind him

Rantaro stumbled, tripping over a few books and falling, hitting his head on the edge of a bookshelf

The detective watched as he fell to the floor, a pool of blood forming under his head

Oh no

What should he do? Kaede would be back any minute.

He ran out, knocking some books over in the process

He ran to the dining hall, where Kirumi, Tenko, and Himiko resided

He sat with them, trying to be casual when he heard a scream come from the library

They all ran out, reaching the library and seeing Kaede in the doorway

Over her shoulder, they could see Rantaro’s body sprawled out on the floor

The investigation happened quickly, Shuichi excusing his nervousness as shock from his first time seeing a real body

When the trial came, he started the discussion, but was soon lost to his own thoughts

He couldn’t let them all die for him, could he?

Shuichi let Kaede carry the trial, only speaking up to confirm evidence or alibis

Finally, Kaede seemed to have pieced it together, looking at Shuichi with an expression that made his whole body churn with guilt

“Shuichi...was it...you?”

He clenched his fists, staring at her with defeated eyes

Everyone was shocked, how could their detective, their friend kill someone?

He nodded, earning a shout of denial from Kaito

He explained what happened, keeping his eyes on his own shoes

He let his classmates throw words of hate at him

He deserved it, after all

Once voting came, he voted for himself

He and Kaede shared look, shedding tears for each other

One final hug

One final smile

One final goodbye.

Kaito Momota

How could he have done this?

Just one second ago Maki was showing him all the weapons in her ultimate lab

Just one second ago she was sternly telling him to not mess with anything

But he didn’t listen

He had to play with the crossbow

He had to accidentally pull the trigger

And now one of his best friends, someone who could’ve possibly been more, was bleeding out on the floor next to him

He grabbed her, earning a sharp gasp of pain from her 

He cried, incoherent words tumbling out of his mouth

She didn’t say anything, only staring up at him with wide eyes, hand holding his cheek

When her eyes glazed over and her hand fell, he screamed, not caring who heard him

When people came rushing in, he didn’t move, still holding Maki’s body

He watched as his tears fell onto her uniform, darkening the red of her coat

The trial came and went, Monokuma calling it one of the fastest trials in killing game history

He didn’t care

He deserved it

He killed one of his best friends

Ryoma Hoshi

Ryoma had expected to be targeted first

And he was right

What he didn’t expect though, was his reaction to the attack

So when Kirumi came up behind him and swung at him with a weapon, his first instinct was to swing at her with his racket

Startled, she spun and stepped back, tripping over the tennis net and hitting the floor, gasping for air at the impact

He watched, wide eyes when he noticed the wooden stick she had attacked him with had pierced through her stomach

He watched as she coughed up blood, staring at him with pained eyes

He saw the life drain from her eyes, her fingers stopped twitching and her chest stopped moving

Ryoma stood, staring at Kirumi’s still corpse

He only moved when he heard a gasp, looking over to see Angie in the doorway

So there was no way he was getting out of this, huh?

Rantaro Amami

Rantaro didn’t understand why he didn’t know his ultimate talent

Everyone else did so he obviously had one

Right?

He sat in the courtyard, aimlessly rearranging heavy rocks into patterns while he let himself get lost in his thoughts

Angie was with him, trying to help him remember his talent and be more happy

Atua told her to, apparently

All it did was make Rantaro frustrated, her constant talking and shaking him when he didn’t respond with more than a hum

“So you should get to know everyone around here more, huh?”

He gave another hum, shoving another rock into place

“Maybe it’ll help you remember your talent!”

“Maybe”

“You know, Atua says that everything happens for a reason, yea? You have sisters, yea? Maybe they went missing for a reason!”

Rantaro let in a deep breath, closing his eyes

“Angie, stop it”

“Maybe they went missing because your talent is super important, or dangerous!”

His hands grasped a rock, knuckles whitening

Rantaro doesn’t lose his cool

“I said drop it, Angie”

“Man, that must feel terrible, being the reason your sisters are gone. But don’t worry! Atua-”

“I SAID STOP!”

He swung at her, only remembering what was in his hand when it was too late.

He watched as she fell into the grass, blood staining it a dark color

He dropped the rock, watching it roll a few inches

What did he do?

He just killed someone

He only planned on killing the mastermind, and he definitely doubted it was Angie

After standing for a minute, thinking about his predicament, Rantaro calmly went back to his dorm, trying to pretend nothing happened

Which was kind of hard when the body discovery announcement woke him up from a nap, only a few hours later

He contributed to the investigation for only a small portion of the time, mostly looking out for who might be suspicious enough to be the mastermind

Not figuring anyone out only made him more frustrated

When the trial came, he tried to spin it on the mastermind, hoping that it would draw them out

But in the end, it was a lost cause, and he was voted as the true culprit

He looked at everyone around himself, giving them a half-hearted salute

“Well, I guess this is it for me. I hope you guys find the person behind this, okay? Get out of here, I know you guys can”

Rantaro gave one last look to all of the students, before turning to the bear

“Okay Monokuma, I’m ready.”

Gonta Gokuhara

Gonta sometimes underestimates his own strength, but it usually earns him a few laughs and some stern lectures

This time, it earned him a horrific sight

He had been helping Himiko with some of her magic tricks in her lab. She wanted him to help her practice some of her illusions, mostly the ones pertaining impossible feats

She was a mage, after all

But when she asked for his help with her sword box trick, he didn’t fully understand that she wanted him to wait a few seconds before putting in the first sword. So as soon as she entered, he stabbed the sword into the box at a random angle

He didn’t realize anything was wrong until he saw blood dripping out from underneath the box

He threw the door open, seeing Himiko standing in the middle, sword through her chest and gasping for air

Gonta yelled, not knowing what to do

“D...don’t worry! Gonta go get help!”

He ran to the nearest room, the dining hall. In there he found Tenko, Shuichi, and Kaito

He explained the situation through a flurry of tears and hiccups, dragging them to her ultimate lab

When they got there, Tenko screamed and immediately ran towards Himiko, noticing that she had already stopped breathing

She ran towards Gonta but Kaito held her back, only earning himself a kick to the stomach

She hit Gonta, screaming at him, but it did nothing as he stared at Himiko’s body

Shuichi went and gathered everyone else, before they waited out the investigation period and headed towards the trial grounds

The trial tensely came and went, everyone already knowing who the blackened was.

Kokichi Oma

Kokichi didn’t understand

Didn’t Gonta understand how to do anything?

He knew Miu planned to kill him, so he manipulated Gonta into killing her

But it went wrong

Did Kokichi’s plans ever go wrong?

Gonta had cornered Miu and began choking her, but Kokichi saw his face as it turned into one of confusion and guilt

“Gonta...Gonta no can do this!”

Before He could release Miu, Kokichi noticed the hammer she had dropped

He picked it up and swung at her, hitting her in the head with a harsh blow

She went limp immediately, Gonta freaking out

“Kokichi...kill Miu!”

Kokichi sighed, looking at her bleeding body

He’d have to pin this on Gonta, huh?

He talked Gonta down from his hysterics, telling him that it was alright 

The entomologist would lose his memory anyways, right? So there were technically no witnesses!

They quickly put her body through the fake wall and returned to the cabin, joining everyone in the panic of Miu’s glitch

When they logged off, Kokichi realized the mistake

He had planted a bottle of poison, yet it was evidence she didn’t show any of the symptoms the poison had

Stupid Gonta!

He went along the investigation as usual, cracking jokes about how stupid the culprit was and calling Miu horrible names anytime she was brought up

When the trial came, he tried to spin it on his accomplice, but that defeated the whole purpose of his plans all along, doesn’t it? 

He wanted them to get out, so he’s been setting up for an impossible crime, he didn’t want them to die

Well, maybe

But he didn’t want Monokuma to win!

When he first said it was himself, no one believed him. He did do that every trial though

But after more talking on Shuchi’s side he finally pieced together what really happened, and that Kokichi was really the culprit

After they voted, everyone was quiet

Shouldn’t they all be happy he’s leaving? He’s been tormenting them their whole lives here!

But it was still a heavy atmosphere, knowing they were now down two more classmates

This a snide one liner, he waved goodbye and let Monokuma walk him to his death.

Korekiyo Shinguuji

Korekiyo knew people were scared off by him. He knew his creepy look and intense personality warded everyone off from him. He didn’t mind, though. 

Korekiyo would much rather watch everything unfold than have to interact with the other students in this academy

Which is why he was even more surprised when he was planning a murder of his own and Kaito walked in

This was an empty classroom on the third floor, why would anyone need to be in here?“H...hey, Kiyo...”

Korekiyo watched him, occasionally glancing back at the cage and sheet he had in the room. “Hey, what’s in your hand?”

Kiyo looked at his hand, noticing he was still gripping the sickle he planned to kill one of the girls with. 

“Oh, I was using it to make markings in the floor”

“Okay.” Korekiyo began to turn back to his work when he heard a click, turning around to see Kaito pointing a crossbow at him. “What are you doing?” 

“I was always suspicious of you. You’re planning a murder, aren’t you?!”

Kaito shot, but his shakiness and inexperience with a crossbow made him miss, hitting the wall behind Korekiyo

The ultimate astronaut swore, and charged at Kiyo. Kiyo dodged a punch, moving through the center of the room, careful not to land on his own trap

Kaito, on the other hand, was unaware of the modifications he had made to the floorboards. He ran towards Korekiyo, stepping on the board and tripping, leg stuck in the trap

Kiyo, in the rush of the moment, swiftly moved towards Kaito, slamming the sickle into his neck

He watched as he bled, silently panicking. He’s only supposed to kill girls, that was his promise to his sister! What did he do?!

He quickly left, going back to his lab 

The body discovery announcement rang out, and he walked slowly to the classroom

Inside was Angie, sitting down and pale, along with a few of their other classmates

He sat in the corner like he usually did, watching Shuichi panic over his best friend. He noted how silent Maki was, before she stormed out.

When the trial began, he continued like he usually did, dropping small bits of info he deemed irrelevant to the case

Then, the mystery was cleared up when they looked at the cultural side of everything that was in the classroom

The voting commence, everyone voting for the ultimate anthropologist

It took all of Maki’s strength not to hurt Kiyo, it was evident by the stare she was giving him. It only angered her more when he said he had no pity for Kaito, only for the fact that he couldn’t keep his promise to his sister

With a laugh, Monokuma dragged him off to his death

‘At least I’ll be with my beloved once more.’

Kiibo

Miu had been trying out new functions on him practically everyday

He had been in her ultimate lab quite frequently, and most of the time he was shut off to make sure nothing went wrong

And nothing every did, till Miu tried to add a hologram function, so they could see his memories. It seemed to work find when they first tested it, but after a few moments of using it Kiibo blacked out

When he regained consciousness, he saw Miu on the floor, bleeding from a head wound. He looked at his own hand, noticing the blood splatter on it

He practically short circuited from the sight, screaming

This alerted Gonta and Kaede, who had been bug hunting in the fields closest to the ultimate inventor lab

Kiibo apologized profusely, if he could cry he would be

Kaede went and got the rest of the class after calming Gonta down

The trial happened without an investigation, Kiibo silently voting for himself

It still hurt when Monokuma announced him as the blackened.He whispered one final apology before being hauled away by Monokuma.

________________________________________________________________

I hope you like it! Sorry it took so long, and I apologize that some are super short!

[v3-killing-harmony-imagines]

While I can relate to this in a way, it’s not exactly like this, anyways I hope everything is okay anon!

-Mod Shuichi

potential trigger warning 

Shuichi Saihara

He had a hunch that something was up

Wearing long sleeves almost all the time, having a habit of crossing your arms....

It was just a thought that floated in the back of his mind.

He noticed your sleeve falling down as you went to pick up something and saw the gleaming contrast of stark white lines against darker, fleshier skin.

He...looked away once he saw you looking, awkwardly fidgeting with his hands and his gaze downcast.

“You can ask.” You said.

“Huh?”

“About my arms, I’m sure it’s been killing you.”

He frowned. “Yeah, but I don’t want to make you uncomfortable...”

 “If you are I’ll let you know, okay?”

He sighed, but nodded, leading you to sit down.

It’ll be a long conversation, with Shuichi trying his best to paraphrase some...touchy questions.

Ex: what made you do this, are you still doing it- and most importantly-  how can he help.

Please be patient with him, he has your best interest in mind. 

Amami Rantarou:

When it comes to Rantarou’s problems he’s always very secretive and unwilling to speak about whats going on. Almost like Ouma.

But when it comes to his s/o’s issues, he’s got that covered.

But when he realized you had self-harm scars he....didn’t know how to approach this.

He could always just bite the bullet and ask up front but...he feels like that 

would end badly for the both of you.

He decides to hint at it occasionally, and every time you questioned him about it he immediately let off of the pressure.

This back and forth cycle continued on for a couple of weeks, before you finally did’t let any more of it slide.

“Just say it to my face, Amami, what do you want to know?”

“Why you’d decide to scar yourself.”

You falter for a split second, and Amami is already apologizing when you shush him.

“Its fine, you deserve to know.”

So you tell him why, or when and how it all started, where you’re at right now and what’s on your mind about the future.

“I really was concerned about you, and I wasn’t sure of how to bring it up, sorry.” he places his hand on yours, comfort evident.

He makes an oath to help your out anytime you need it, so you won’t have to suffer anymore.

Kaito Momota:

VERY VERY UNSUBTLE.

At first he asks, “Hey s/o! What are those scars you have on your arms from? They like from a fight or something.”

Your face whitens, “Uh...something like that?”

“Well when did it happen?” Kaito over here has no idea that these were caused by 

“It...Kaito I really...” you sighed. “It’s not like what you think.”

“What is it then....?”

You explain it to him, and as you keep talking you can see the confused yet excited look slide off of his face like a greasy egg in a pan.

And he just, psychically can;t say anything, he’s actually breaking out in a sweat.

“Doesn’t that...hurt..?”

“In more ways than one.”

“Then...why?”

He starts blaming himself, asking if he wasn’t good enough, if he couldn’t make you happy.

He’s not happy about it, he has to leave the room because his emotions are getting the best of him. 

Things are....awlkward, needless to say, for a while.

He does want to help it just...he feels weird about it, the idea of you hurting yourself...it sends a shiver down his spine.

He’s a bit selfish during this, and he knows and he hates it, because you should be the one being afraid if anything, not him.

But it’s new to him, and he’s terrified of this new way he has to think about you (because it is, he;s always thought of you as happy and cheerful) 

It’s a change of his perspective, and it’s rocky at first but you two will work through it together.

Kiibo: 

He’s confused when he first sees them, and asks if you’ve been in contact with any gerbils or cats lately.

A really, really feral gerbil or cat.

Because what else could cause so many scars and marks?

Due to his misconception you just...let him think what he wants for a while, until you’re comfortable with telling him 

And so for the longest time Kiibo goes around telling everyone that you’re being attacked by wild animals daily.

Unfortunately, Ouma eventually finds out about this, growing quiet when you enter a room, vague hinting at it sometimes.

You’ll be having a conversation with him just a normal, before his demeanor changes and he says. “How long are you going to keep lying to Kiibo?”

He then reverts back to his bubbly self, pretending like nothing happened.

From Ouma’s “encouragement” and your guilt from not telling Kiibo, you decide to tell him once and for all.

And at first he’s confused, until you bring up you’ve done it to yourself.

“Oh, self-harm and hatred, usually caused by anxiety or depression.”

He takes it surprisingly well, reassuring (or boasting on his part) that he was always searching for causes from external parties, not internal.

He isn’t very...delicate, when it comes to talking about emotional subjects like depression, etc, but he understands it, and knows the steps to take in order to help you.

Just...call him out when you feel uncomfortable, and tell him what he needs to do, he’ll adapt very quickly, and if anything, you’ll be closer by the end of it.

Ouma Kokichi:

He always had a hunch that something was up, but for the life of him he could never figure out what.

He’d try and pry the information out of you, but when you don’t even know what you’re asking someone to confess it makes things difficult.

So he sat, and schemed for a while, helplessly waiting for a clue to pass by.

When he does get this clue, it’d from another person, Kiibo, Maki, Kaede- someone who’s close to you.

And he’s shocked, and feels betrayed.

Not because you didn’t tell him, but because you told someone else before him.

He know its petty for him to think like that but he’s too busy being jealous to think of anything else.

His whole meaner around you will change, hawk-eye- staring at you as you walk into the room, giving hints that you should probably just tell the truth to him, basically everything he can do physically without actually having to straight up ask you.

This method takes too long, so finally he just decides to ask you “Do you not trust me enough to tell me the truth.”

He’s a big walking hypocrite, god knows that he’s not one for telling the truth to anyone. 

He’s fed up with the situation , and mostly himself that he just gets up, makes an excuse and leaves.

The next time you talk to him it’s to talk things out and explain why you told others before him.

He’s angry, but it’s not anger at you, at himself for not being able to protect you, to make you think you couldn’t tell him.

He’s crying, actually fucking crying because he thinks of the pain you’ve gone through just because he was stupid enough not to put two and two together.

You reassure him it’s not his fault, that you didn’t want him seeing you so broken, he’ll still blame himself.  “I love you, I don’t want you to ever, ever fucking forget that.” He clenches his teeth. “Okay?” his voice quavers, and the night is spent close together, tears being shed and bodies shaking.

Korekiyo Shinguji:

He’s a calmer, quieter reactor.

He never wanted to pry into it, as he knows that there are things people just want to keep to himself.

When you do tell him he thanks you for trusting him enough to share him with that information

He gently asks what was the cause behind all of this, and suggests other methods to vent your feelings.

Like painting or drawing on yourself, slapping yourself with rubber bands, he even discuses the idea of going to a therapist.

And if you want other methods of pain, there’s pleanty.

(Aka, more sexual, and delivered to one by another person, not drawing blood or a lot of it at least)

Overall he’s very supportive, willing to do about anything if it means helping you.

he adapts very quickly, and nothing has changed between the two of you.

Gonta Gokuhara: 

Just like with most things, he’s clueless and can’t wrap his head around it.

He’s just always assumed those marks were from an animal or thorn, some outdoor elements.

The first time he actually considers that it might be something else, he assumes someone has hurt you, and freaks out.

When you get him to calm down, and reassure him that no one has hurt him, he’s relieved,  but still a little puzzled.

When or if you do tell them that the marks are self-inflicted he honestly doesn’t understand why someone would want to hurt themselves.

You have to teach him that there’s people who...are in a lot of pain and do things because of it.

By the end of it he doesn’t understand the psychological element behind it, but understands that you’re in pain, which makes you do it.

So, to help out , he asks you what he can do to help you not be in pain.

They range from mundane things, making sure the bed is comfy, that your shoes are the right size to more complex tasks, talking about your feelings and giving gentle head-pats, telling you he loves you.

Ryoma Hoshi:

He tapped your arms and thighs. “You too?”

You looked confused, he clarified, biting his candy cigar. 

“You have so much pain in your life that you need to cut it out of yourself to numb you, fight fire with fire as they say.”

You gulp, he releases your arm. “It’s alright.” 

He pulls up the sleeves of his jumpsuit. “I know that you’ve been through.”

Tears well up in your eyes, biting the bottom of your lip, quivering.

He opens his arms, and you dive into the, letting all your dark thoughts and releasing it.

He coos into your ear, doing his best to hush your cries.

He stays with your for as long as you need after that. 

[danganxastrologyimagines]

“Can you please do one with the V3 boys, their s/o, Himiko and the Exisils? Their s/o is like 'I've a cute mage that's loads with a strong powerful magic and a history of poor choices. Stay back, unless you want to face her adorable magical warth!' The Monokuds eject themselves before their machines explode.”

Shuichi Saihara:

You’re carrying Himiko as you’re guiding Shuichi around the halls in an attempt to escape the Exisals.

Unfortunately, you forgot about a missing Exisal, and you were cornered outside.

Shuichi was staying as close to you as possible, wanting to enjoy his last living moments with you – even if this was a killing game, he still loved you.

You grabbed Himiko, and Shuichi was surprised. He thought that you were two-timing him.

Then you delivered your speech, and Shuichi clocked on that you knew something about Himiko that he didn’t.

He witnessed the Monokubs leaping out of their Exisals out of fear for their lives as the Exisals themselves exploded.

“You.” Monokuma growled at you. “I was in a good mood before this, so you’re lucky you’re not going to get punished for destroying MY property.”

The Monokubs attempted to scoot away, but Monokuma stomped over to them.

“Oh no, father’s mad!”

*So long, bear well!*

“s/o,” Shuichi started, holding your shoulder. “how did you find out that you could get us out by using Himiko?”

“Lucky guess!” You stated.

Shuichi looked over at Himiko to see how she felt about the situation.

“Nyeh, I’m just glad I could help.” Himiko smirked, walking away with a glint of restlessness in her legs.

Kaito Momota:

Kaito was dragging you, who was dragging Himiko, to outrun the Exisals that were targeting them.

You ran to a dead end, and Kaito’s gone pale as you’re embracing Himiko, who’s looking unnerved by the situation.

You apologise to Himiko before lifting her up towards the direction of the Exisals.

“Watch your step!” The Exisals stumbled back for a second, before stopping completely.

“I have a cute mage with strong powerful magic and a history of-“

Before you could finish your statement, you spotted all the Monokubs ejecting themselves out of the machines before being brought down with a parachute.

You heard Monokuma appearing behind you, shaking with anger.

“You better watch yourself. Do that again, and I’m punishing you.” Monokuma spat out at you, face red with fury.

Kaito was about to say that the Exisals weren’t destroyed, so there’s no reason for you to get any backlash, but as he opened his mouth, the sound of the Exisals exploding caused all three of you to jump.

“GREAT. How much do you think those things cost?” Monokuma whined, turning away.

Rantaro Amami:

Since he has taken part in the previous killing game, he knew the consequences of not following the rules.

So he tried not to get too attached to you, and that clearly worked out well.

Now you’re holding hands while running away from danger together, with Himiko following behind you.

He doesn’t know what to do, so he chooses to hug you from behind as his final moment.

You knew Himiko could work her magic in this situation, so you pull her over and hold her up to the Exisals, and they all begin to go away as quickly as they could.

They couldn’t get away quick enough to avoid destruction as Himiko’s neutral yet puffy expression made their machines malfunction.

The monokubs eject themselves successfully, but they landed up getting caught in the ceiling so they couldn’t safely get down.

Monokuma runs in with a step-ladder, almost mocking their situation.

“You kids and your rule breaking!” Monokuma growled at you and Himiko.

Rantaro was interested to find out how you found out about Himiko’s ability to stop Exisals from destroying you.

Eventually, he did drag both of you aside to ask you about the story.

Himiko said she was glad her HP was high enough for the defence, and you responded by saying you felt her ability in that moment.

He gives you a telling off for potentially sacrificing Himiko for your own sake.

Kokichi Ouma:

He’s going to be the shit that’s weaving between the Exisals, partially to buy more time for you to run away with Himiko, but also to annoy the monokubs.

You were following Himiko, and she lead you into a room with no exit other than the one you entered with.

You felt Kokichi run to the back, trying to think of a way out for at least one of you.

Out of instinct and delusion, you turned around to grab Himiko, before running towards the front of the room to be seen by the Exisals, and Kokichi didn’t witness the Monokubs desperately escaping from piloting their killer bots.

He did, however, hear the sound of an explosion, before Monokuma ushered you three into the room.

“What are you playing at?” Monokuma interrogated you. “Are you trying to kill my kids? Only I can do that!”

“Well they didn’t die, did they?” Kokichi piped up, putting on his usual carefree grin when presenting himself to Monokuma.

Monokuma, fuming, chose not to exercise Kokichi’s antics this time. Sure, he did make the game interesting, but he knew that Kokichi had nothing to really do with this situation.

He swiftly left the room to tell of his kids.

“Well, it looks like you can be useful after all, Himiko.” Kokichi shrugged.

Ryoma Hoshi:

Ryoma did something to anger the Monokids, so you two were now running away from the Exisals, who were on your tail.

Himiko was unlucky enough to be dragged into the situation, as she entered the hall right as the Exisals were around the corner.

You grabbed Himiko, placing her on your back as you continue to run.

You noticed that Himiko’s presence caught the Monokubs by surprise, so you did what could be considered incredibly stupid or brave.

You stopped in your tracks, turning Himiko to the Exisals.

“I have an adorable mage with powerful magic and a history of bad decisions.” You exclaimed, ignoring Himiko’s responses.

“Stay back or face her magical wrath!”

The monokubs ran off before you caught them, and you only knew they were away because the Exisals exploded and Monokuma didn’t seem like he was mourning over any of his lost children.

“Well,” Ryoma began. “I still got a ways to go.”

Ryoma don’t.

Gonta Gokuhara:

You were running away from the Exisals while giving Himiko a piggy back, and Gonta thought that you were doing it for fun so he gave you a piggy back ride.

Now you’re a human ladder that’s desperately trying to get away from Exisals that were trying to hunt down at least two of the three components of the ladder.

You reassured Himiko that everything would be alright, before grabbing her and holding her out to the Exisals behind you as Gonta continued to run, not realising what was going on above him.

He doesn’t even hear your speech, he only heard the Monokids rushing away from the scene after the stomping died down and was replaced by a loud bang.

Monokumas now chasing the Monokubs, who were originally chasing you because you broke a rule with Himiko.

The monokids attempted to push the blame onto Himiko’s cuteness, and Monokuma scoffed.

“Do you kids really think I’m stupid enough to believe that?” Monokuma stated, visibly insulted by the nerve they had to tell him something so absurd.

Gonta’s not sure what happened.

He’s just happy that you and Himiko were now off the hook.

You and Himiko promise each other not to tell Gonta about what happened beforehand.

Korekiyo Shinguuji:

Ah, humans are so interesting.

He wasn’t even a part of the situation, and he was seeing the desperation in your eyes to get out of the situation.

He noticed that you picked up Himiko, and he can’t help but bring his hand up to his face in surprise, looking upon the situation with a newly found interest in what you knew, or what you thought could work.

He can’t hear what you’re saying over the sound of the Exisals because of how far away he was from you, so he just watches the actions to see what happens.

Once he saw the Exisals explode, he’s really confused by the entire situation.

Korekiyo’s trying to figure out how this could even happen, leading to him interrogating both of you.

Well done, s/o. You managed to confuse Korekiyo of all people.

Keebo:

He’s trying to calculate the best possible route out of the situation.

He noticed you picking up Himiko, and he’s caught off-guard by this.

“s/o, what are you doing?” Keebo questioned you, tilting his head. “Your actions do not make any logical sense in this context.”

You couldn’t hear him over the sound of Exisals thomping towards the three of you, as you held up Himiko to the Exisals.

“I’ve got a cute mage that’s loaded with strong powerful magic and a history of poor choices!”

The Exisals grinded to a halt.

“Stay back unless you want to face her adorable magical wrath!”

Out popped all the Monokubs.

“What in the HELL are you kids up to now?!?” Squeaked out a raging Monokuma, showing up wearing a face mask. “Can’t I leave you alone for five minutes?”

You drag away Himiko and Keebo when you had the chance to, thanking Himiko for allowing you to do it again.

“Again?” Keebo exclaimed.

[lore-a-lie]

Chapter 3, Act 11: Divining Revolutions

CLASS TRIAL- RESUME

As Kaede gave her silent approval Angie took the moment to meditate before responding in kind. Not that she wouldn’t be willing to lead the cross-examination thingies, even if she wasn’t as familiar with how to really do so.

And it was comforting to see Kaede’s earlier attempt to give up her position of authority was genuine. Or if not, that it was able to become genuine for this moment at the very least.

But still, it wasn’t Angie’s place to make such a call just yet. There was a reason she tried not to be so compelling during these debates. If Atua saw no need for her to act, who was she to act against Him?

Awwright Sugah, ‘Tis the Time to Start Speaking Thy Piece. Ain’t None of Thy Allies Willin’ an’ Able to Surpass the Impasse as Thy art to Bring this Shindig to its Most Unrighteous of Conclusions.

And with that command His Prophet gave the pitiful pianist the acknowledgement she sought. She gave a bright and possibly too eager (or too quick) nod in reply, as Angie tried to see what He needed of her.

The most obvious thing to do is make Kiyo stop being stupid. But Kiyo really liked being stupid, and has never not wanted to talk this much, so that will be tough. Second most obvious is to get Tenko to shed more light on how she could have possibly missed the demon’s attempt to attack him or what happened.

I don’t think my involvement there matters until we clear that up, I only saw the tail end of it. So me talking about it now might just make things even more messy, and harder for everyone else to follow.

But maybe being so obvious was the problem. Maybe Kaede was right to try and bring things back to Ryoma.

“Hey-hey, Tenko? You said Ryoma was okay with you and Sissy-Cersei’s “replace Kiyo” plan right?” Angie asked, with a vague sketch in her mind of what she needed to do.

“Y-yeah. What about it?”

“Was he really okay with you being involved with it?” Angie tilted herself at an angle, to see if it would help her catch any small details or help catch Tenko off-guard. Not that it ever really worked on Tenko (or anyone here really) before, but it was also just fun to see if anyone would react period.

“Why wouldn’t he be?” Tenko tried to ask, to brush Angie’s oddities off as if it was just her being silly. But Kokichi saw through it, like the ridiculous over-thinker was prone to doing even if he was wrong.

“Well gee Tenko, I don’t know.” Kokichi drawled, and Tenko immediately started to cringe. And not in her normal “Ew-why-is-this-pest-known-as-a-male-trying-to-speak-to-me-can-I-kill-it” Tenko cringe-face. The “Oh-no-I-didn’t-think-this-through” type of cringey-face as he tauntly pulled apart her bluff. “Why on earth would the guy who offered to die immediately when put in a murder game to help buy the rest of us time have a problem with a strong, justice-loving, “innocent” girl like yourself trying to get away with “technically” murdering a man? As opposed to say… Offering to take your place in this plan?”

“Wait. What would Tenko’s place in the plan even have been?” Kaito asked.

“Well, it doesn’t make sense for Cersei to use Kiyo��s avatar, since hers and his look so similar.” Kaede started to explain in her teacher-y sorta way she’d do sometimes. “So maybe the plan was for Tenko to use the outdated Kiyo avatar? Like if they were supposed to switch so it was actually his sister who was the “Tenko” Gonta was with when looking for “Cersei”?”

“WHAT?! But that unpossible! Gonta make super sure it was Mini-Tenko that Mini-Gonta was with!”

“Try to think of it like why I was a suspect in the first trial, Gonta. Remember how I was accused because I’m good at dressing up as people? Kaede thinks that they wanted to dress up as each other to trick you.” Tsumugi simplified the situation as best she could, even hand talking to a degree in hopes of helping for once. “But they didn’t! So it IS impossible in that it didn’t happen. But Kokichi’s trying to say that maybe when you and Tenko were looking for “sister” in the woods, that was really Ryoma. Or something like that, I think?”

“So the body by the river could have been Ryoma’s? And we just didn’t see Kiyo’s sister at all before we left?”

“I mean, it’s not like we thought to check if saying anyone’s names would have logged that body out. So it could have been, since we assumed Ryoma was last seen headed to the mansion to leave the sim. Kibo could have seen him heading to the wardrobe instead or something like that.” Kaito suggested.

“Kiyo’s sister would need to be alive then right?” Kibo asked with concern, and hissed at Kokichi to shut it when he started being technical about her “living” status again to continue. But in a twist he looked to their judge. “Monokuma, would it be possible to bring up the simulation’s log? It’s not really “fair” you didn’t give me a chance to check it before the trial in hindsight. I want to see if Kiyo had to log his sister out before he could leave.”

“What, and make this mystery easier for you? Not a chance, this is waaay more interesting! I believe in you~” The bear mocked him with a laugh, and Angie amazed herself once again at her ability to refrain from flipping him off. Even if it meant no one would, with Kokichi not being the right sort of vulgar and Kaito being the wrong sort of immature to fill the void Miu would have gladly filled.

One of many voids Miu would have gladly filled come to think of it! Nya-ha-ha~ I hope she’s watching us with a smile and sassy commentary, wherever she is. And giving this bear the bird he’s asking for. No matter how much it would make Shuichi squirm or Kirumi needed to chide her for it.

I wonder if Rantaro and Himiko are getting along? They’re both laid back people. Or the way we knew them they were. I’m sure no matter what state Ryoma’s in from this that Maki’s already by his side!

I wonder if they appreciate seeing me pray for them so often, even if I was mean to them when they were still with us? Or I’m making them laugh, seeing what I do as being silly or stupid despite my intentions?

… Prophet, the Trials Ya’ll are Still Facing are a Bit Mo’ Important at Present, Are They Not?

RIGHT. Whoopsie-daisy~ Thank you, O’ great and wise Atua for Your divine inspiration!

Snapping out of her trance that was most definitely not a nap, Angie made sure she looked as attentive as she could as she checked to see where the conversation was at.

“-So you think Ryoma wanted to get Kiyo and Angie out of the church to give them an opportunity to perform a kill-and-switch?” She heard Kaito say.

“No, he didn’t want me involved at all. And Ryoma didn’t seem too keen on actually seeing if Cerci would be safe on her own. You know how he can get. The only switching he would have wanted to try was using Kiyo’s appearance to get close to either sibling to see if they could be killed, and then pretend to be the dead one to repeat the process on whoever was left.”

“So you think he was just trying to take a chance to go after either of them?” Kaede asked Tenko.

“Yeah, but it’s not like it sounds like he made contact if Cerci never died! I mean Kiyo said his sister spoke to him when she attacked him, and avatar switching wouldn’t change Ryoma’s voice, right?”

“Right. If they could, we never would have realized Kiyo’s sister was a person instead of an illness.” Kibo agreed.

“We don’t know that she isn’t-” Tsumugi tried to point out, only to be cut off by an offended Tenko trying to keep the point of discussion to the forefront.

“That doesn’t change the core point here!”

“The point that relies on Kiyo being honest? ‘Cause that’s a pretty shitty one to bet our lives on.” Kokichi prodded again, trying and failing to get Kiyo to lash out.

And that was still a problem Angie wasn’t sure how to solve yet.

She knew his sister was still in there, and she thought everyone else did too enough for him to stop being so cagey about her presence. But for once that “edgy” zipper on his face suited how tight lipped he was.

He must have noticed how she kept looking at it too, as Kiyo narrowed his eyes at her and leaned more to Tsumugi’s side. Like he half-expected Angie to try and leap over the boundary between them to yank it open. Which probably would get him to at least say something, but Angie figured getting a human reaction out of him probably wouldn’t lead to a useful one. (But it’s something I can try later I guess!)

So she was left trying to sort out how Ryoma fit in. “Tenko, how do you know Ryoma wasn’t just going to go along with your plan?” Angie slapped her hands to her cheeks in shock, “Could it be Tenko already knew it wouldn’t work because Kore is evil? How mature of you!”

“Hey!” The whine came as expected, “I’m already plenty mature! I know because Ryoma told me so. He thought it’d be safer to kill both of them, but even if he didn’t-” Tenko cut herself off as she started to rub at her arm while looking down with a look of shocked realization.

“If he didn’t?” Kaito anxiously repeated to urge her on.

“If he didn’t get them both then he said he’d still confess if there was a trial.” She numbly repeated, barely blinking despite the tears Angie could see starting to well at the corners of her eyes. But when Tenko got ahold of herself she shook them off and desperately looked to Kaito. “But he wouldn’t have actually meant that, right?! He… I thought you and Kaede were helping him through that stuff! And this couldn’t have been… THAT, right? So we wouldn’t be forced to watch him suffer for my stupid idea?”

“Of course not!” Kaede said seemingly in spite of herself. Perhaps more a reflection of her hopes than their reality. “If he did that wouldn’t explain his cause of death or being found in the pool. We already established that!” (Ah, good point. That does reflect our reality pretty well… Maybe that’s the problem!)

We’re focusing on our reality, when we should be testing Kibo’s reality! He should have some idea of what could “kill” in the sim, even if he hasn't said so yet. And he was there for the wardrobe stuff to some extent from the sounds of things. But I don’t want to spook him, so he doesn’t get stage fright.

“Wait… Kibo, how much of this did you know?” Angie asked with a cutesy and quirky tilt of her head with her hands in place as if to tighten screws to help her think straighter. “If she and Ryoma talked about this in the virtual world near your wardrobe thingy are you suuure you didn’t overhear something about it?”

“... Enough?” Kibo said, avoiding eye contact with everyone as he twiddled his fingers. “I mean I didn’t know Miss Shinguji was involved in this! And I thought Ryoma’s plan was what Tenko had intended…”

Kibo turned to bow to Kiyo in a near panic, voice shaky and air puffing as if his throat was closing up even though he didn’t breath. “I’m very sorry! I knowingly conspired to help murder your sister, and there’s no excuse for that! I completely understand if you can never forgive me for that. Or if none of you can.”

“I… I was worried she was going to kill someone. I had no idea who or how, so I didn’t know what to do! So I thought that since she was your original motive, that getting rid of her could be to your benefit.

“Seeing how you two were fighting, I wasn’t sure if she was going to kill you and use my program to hide it! I didn’t know Tenko was trying to HELP her do something like that!” He shouted, nearly hysterical. “So when I found that avatar by the river I… I panicked. I got out of the sim, to make sure everyone was okay, and while Kiyo was okay, Ryoma… Ryoma wasn’t.

“I thought he succeeded in killing Miss Shinguji and then chose to kill himself rather than risk being executed or making Kiyo worse. If there was no trial for a “murder” like this Kiyo might have done something drastic to avenge her, or hurt himself so I thought it made sense! And I did something stupid.

“I… moved Ryoma’s body, hoping it’d help make what happened clearer.” Kibo confessed at last, staring so hard at the floor it was like he was testing out a new laser vision feature. “Maybe it was also just me being selfish, trying to hide how people could physically die in my simulation despite my best efforts. I took him to his lab and tossed him into the pool from his window, since I thought paralleling the other murder would make his intentions clearer. I’m so so sorry everyone. I didn’t intend to hurt anyone…”

“And what if you were wrong, huh?!” Kaito snapped at him, making Kibo flinch. “You don’t have proof that’s what happened, and you messing with the crime scene doesn’t help anything! Do you even know how Ryoma “killed himself” in your scenario?!”

“Uhhh…”

“Back off Kaito, Kibo said he panicked so it’s plainly obvious he wasn’t thinking straight! I mean who could in a situation like that?” Tsumugi snapped back, taking some pressure off of the robotic boy.

“How exactly did he “die” in your Oh-so-safe virtual world anyway, Keeboy?” Kokichi drawled, but there was a vindictive glint to his eyes and his smug smile was all teeth. “You know something we don’t?”

“I… I mean, he could have taken one of Shuichi’s poisons-”

“BBBZT! Wrong, try again!” Kokichi interrupted with a raspberry in place of an incorrect buzzer, getting more manic in his malice. “Kaito and I were in Shuichi’s lab when the Monokuma file says he died, and I made sure all those poisons are accounted for every time I visit! If he swiped one earlier I’d know.”

The Child Panics, Guilt Turns To Fury, Fanned by Failure and Fear. The One with False Leadership Would Claim Responsibility for This Crime an’ all Crimes Previous if They Only Could. Thy Needst No Reminder of Where They Fall Short. Each Night the Denied Truths Return, The Worst Plague of All.

Ummm, I think you used “Thy” wrong there?

An uncanny echo of silence resounded in Angie’s head, the type that would normally mean Atua had fallen asleep again. But it turned out to be but a pause as she heard His wondrous words return to her.

Ah... My B. I Grant Thee My Most Sincerest of Apologies, Sunspot. Perhaps ‘tis the Sound of Sleep Beckoning Me to Her Bodacious Bosom Once More that Distractith Me So.

“Distractith”? Now you’re just teasing me, there’s no way you used that right!

“Fine! Yes, he died in the simulation but I don’t know how!” Kibo broke down. “There shouldn’t have been any way for him to prematurally sever the connection between his mind and his body. But he was brain dead so it must have happened somehow. I’m not sure if he did it on purpose, or if he had help-”

“Wait,” Kaito said to pause the panicking robot. “Let’s just narrow down what could cause that then, okay? I mean we know where his avatar was found in the simulation, so that can help. Just because he died in there doesn’t make you the killer, so no need to freak out. Just be honest with us! No more lies.”

“So you think the river might be part of it? But he didn’t drown or suffocate.” Kaede pointed out.

“Maybe it like how Mini-Gonta gets scared at the Low-ding Point? Is that what being “brain dead” like? Like sleeping without dreams?” Gonta suggested with a shutter at the thought.

“Maybe!” Tsumugi replied, and put her nerdy knowledge to good use. “Video games would often have water act as boundaries by making you die or respawn if you touch it. Were there any rules like that, Kibo?”

“I… I don’t know.” He quietly said. “I never checked, I never considered anyone going for a swim. I mean even when we have a pool no one really uses it, so I didn’t think there would be any interest.”

… Oh. I get it now. That’s what You’re sorry about.

It’s not Your fault! You were asleep at the time.

But her words sounded like they fell on deaf ears as the void Atua used to be in gave her no comfort.

Angie wasn’t sure if she should share her findings just yet though. It’d be more convincing if she could get Kiyo to lead the others to it first, since he also saw what happened, but she wasn’t sure how to get him to work with her. He seemed far too content with taking the blame for this case, and it rattled her.

They both knew if he was found guilty it would only get him and everyone else who was innocent killed.

If he still wanted to die there were easier ways to do it! Ways that wouldn’t hurt anyone else physically.

I’m not really sure how I would take it emotionally though. I mean, am I to blame for this any? I don’t think I am, I think he enjoys making me mad and how I try to get back at him. He’s annoying like that.

Still, Kaito wants us to help him and Atua agrees with that! Even if Kiyo’s such an ignorant know-it-all.

Is he trying to die like this to save the blackened? To repay them for interfering in Ryoma’s attempt to kill him? Or is this just so he makes sure that even though his “Sister” isn’t real he still makes 100 friends for her? I mean it sounds like he’s close enough that three “admirable” girls would more than met his goal.

Assuming the mastermind isn’t a girl I mean. Technically they’d survive in that case too, wouldn’t they?

If our lives are in real danger, despite what we’ve seen before, how can he accept letting THEM survive?!

Maybe I can use that to talk some sense into him!

“Kiyo, are you sure you heard your sis speak to you when you saw her on the bridge?” Angie tried as a direct question, one he might be more open to answering now. “Or any chance that was Ryoma who was trying to harass you? Or someone else? ‘Cause I know what I saw, but I didn’t hear anyone say anything.”

“... I hardly see why it would change anything,” he muttered. “Even if she didn’t say them aloud we’ve proven her intent and that of my assaulter is one and the same, yes?”

“What happened after the fight?” Kokichi prodded and Angie winced at how blunt he was being. She could tell he was trying to use his tell-y trick again, but with Kiyo like this what good would it be?

But despite her concerns he did confirm some of their friends’ assumptions. Just not in a helpful way.

“She fell in the river. Clearly that much should seem obvious at this point.”

“Did she now? Or was she pushed?” Kokichi pushed again, before Angie could butt in.

This time Kiyo acted more like she was expecting, and only gave a bitter shrug. “Who can say?”

“Come on, out with it!” Kaito snapped.

“And why should I? To what benefit is there? Is it not enough to merely narrow down suspects?”

“Have you really lost it?!” Tenko shouted. “We’ll all die if we get this wrong!”

“As will we all, in due time-”

“Well, what are you being so cagey for then?” Angie asked with a forced brightness in hopes of putting him off guard and cut to the chase. “Do you really want the mastermind to win?”

And while it didn’t work he had no answer for her, which gave her enough satisfaction.

“That’s what’ll happen, won’t it? We all die but the blackened and the mastermind? The killing game will only ever end with two survivors, right?” She continued to needle, and Monokuma began to act like he was getting hot under the collar at her questioning. Despite the whole not having a collar thing.

“No comment!”

“Huh, huh? Who asked you? I was obviously talking to Kiyo, silly!”

Tsumugi giggled a bit at that, probably a case of nerves giving her the flutterbugs, which got some others to laugh between her ensuing embarrassment and Monokuma’s indignation. Still, the levity helped raise Angie’s spirit a little, in light of what Kiyo was showing she would need to reveal.

But Tenko cut in before she had the chance.

“Stop trying to deny what you did then, you degenerate! We know you killed him, and we know that while you want to die, She doesn’t! It doesn’t matter if it was self-defense, or mistaken identity, or anything else! You’re not going to go sliding on another loophole, you murderer!” Her ranting was so non-stop that even Kaede couldn’t get a word in edgewise.

And as she watched her friend try to make her case against Kiyo, without any regard to the other voices trying to be heard in her misplaced fury, Angie felt something not unlike Atua’s artistic urges.

The Ultimate Artist could see it. A lovely set of armor that could reflect the soul of the Ultimate Aikido Master, as ill fitting and out of place such a garment was for the martial art. But for Neo-Aikido it’d work just fine, and invoking the style of the Samurai would be done in the spirit of the great Tomoe.

Such a warrioress deserved nothing less than an armor that would reflect her heart of hearts. And Tenko herself warranted feeling not like a princess as Tsumugi had tried, but a queen ever at the ready to strike.

Layers of lacquered wood and pristine porcelain, woven with leather into skirts for the light flexibility western metal armor could never match. Each strip made the shade of sweet sakura petals so light that the girlish pink would be nearly wedding white under the rising sun. An ill omen for any man who tried to wed her, but their foolish blood would turn it a lucky and evil-banishing crimson soon enough.

Not that it was like the martial artist to seek marital bliss. Her bliss came in simpler, smaller forms daily. But if Angie could make this even half as beautiful as what Atua was proposing, Tenko would adore it.

Still, she tried to will the beautiful image away, before she could get lost in details she would never be able to bring to life. If she didn’t stop now, before the issues of a masked helm could arise, she might not manage to later. It hurt to ignore such god-given artistry that could bring such joy to one close to her.

It was one of many things she’d never be able to do with Tenko again when all was said and done.

There’s only one way to stop this. This must be why Atua’s been so quiet aside from this last vision.

He must be so ashamed of me. I should have realized it sooner.

“So how can you say for sure the degenerate isn’t our real culprit Angie?!”

Four little words is all it should take.

“BECAUSE”

But it’s okay!

“I”

I can do this!

“PUSHED”

I’m sorry Tenko.

“HIM!”

Angie had to take a moment to regain control of her breathing after making that dreaded confession. But at least all of her friends should be safe now. If only from the fate she needs to face for the time being.

“I saw him try to attack Kiyo on the bridge. I didn’t know it was Ryoma, I just saw Kiyo’s Sister picking on him so I wanted to help and it looked like things were getting dangerous! So I snuck up on her, err him, and poked not-Kore’s back to pause them. But Kiyo wouldn’t move, he musta been in shock or somethin’,  and I couldn’t move Kiyo off of the dumb narrow bridge to somewhere safer and keep Kore paused!”

“So you pushed her off the bridge, to keep her away from Kiyo?” Kaede pressed, but thankfully her eyes were understanding. There were no bitter feelings to be found in them, only the pain of true sympathy.

“Yeah! I thought the river’s current would make sure whatever shore she swam to would be far enough away to either get help or snap Kiyo out of it! It’s not like she hurt him yet as far as I could tell, but still...”

“You didn’t know we can’t swim in Kibo’s world.” Kaito numbly supplied as his features at last softened with this final closure. “Ryoma fell out of bounds, breaking the mental connection, and you had no idea.”

“Yes! Angie thought it was harmless! Everyone where she’s from are super good swimmers, she didn’t-” Angie caught herself and tried to slow herself so she could be as clear as possible. So there was no doubts about her words, and her reasons wouldn’t change the truth they had all suffered for. “I didn’t think there was any reason why a river that narrow would be dangerous. Kibo did such a divine job making everything there safe! Atua thought he covered everything. I forgot it could be deadly.”

And with the painful truth laid bare Angie took another look to her friends, trying to gauge their reactions. It didn’t surprise her to see Kokichi held no pity for her, only frustration. She knew his qualms with murder, and he had heard her suggest reviving the dead as sacrifices, firmly setting him against her.

It’s surprising how much more hollow this feels than what I expected getting someone killed would be back then. Maybe this is meant to be a sign Ryoma really isn’t dead! Or maybe that’s wishful thinking.

The others looked at her with different levels of somber airs and hurt understanding. Though Kiyo seemed shocked enough by her willingness to confess that even with his mask he appeared slack-jawed.

And that slack was all the give his mental parasite needed to claw the mask away, giving Angie a second witness if any wanted to argue against her unwitting guilt. Because while Kiyo may have still had a death wish, setting his objective against their own, Kore made it clear she was a very different story.

“It’s true! I’m sick of being considered “dead” or accused of things I know nothing about!” The banshee screeched. “I never saw Kiyo on any bridge, and I only spoke to him after he logged us both out!

“I wasn’t even in the mansion when he did it! It was extremely rude of him, not like my Korekiyo at all.” She snorted as she crossed her arms and gave Ryoma’s portrait a glare, trying to reclaim her usual frozen facade. “Even more so for him to try and drag us all down with him over such minor grievances.

“Honestly, you all you should be ashamed of yourselves! After all that progress, all our work to get him past these frivolous urges, what do you cretins do? You drag my brother’s spirit low enough to relapse, despite all the flimsy excuses he gives to defend you people!” The haughty haunting hussy huffed.

“Huh~ Since when did he need us for that? You seemed to be doing that fine enough on your own.” Angie called, leaning over the railing of her podium as she taunted so she could better aggravate the monster beside her. It’s not like she had anything left to lose anymore with her Lord’s silence, and if she didn’t shut this bitch up herself no one might.

“EXCUSE ME?!” (I can definitely feel Atua’s desire to make an ice sculpture of her, if only to curse her. Not that He can now. It’s probably just out of habit He let me feel this at all. Unless He feels my guilt is lacking and is trying to make me more repentant?)

“That’s why you wanted him to go after Kaede, isn’t it? Somebody was jealous~ Ya meanie.”

“Nonsense, that was his choice-”

“Liar, Liar, pants on fire~” Angie sang over the false specter. She could feel her anger seep over into her smile as she laid her rage bare. “If that were true, Kiyo would have asked me to be the medium before. And Angie probably would have said “yes” like a real dummy! Atua was too busy rage napping to give Angie his divine protection and I wanted Kiyo to mess it up! ‘Cause he acts like Atua isn’t the only true god. But Kiyo didn’t! And then mean ol’ missy sissy got all hissy over him just wanting her to make normal friends with us. Because you don’t want “friends”. You didn’t want him to have any, yes?”

At least Angie wasn’t the only one pissed off any more. Even if she had to quickly swing herself back to avoid the monster’s attempt to slap her, which nearly caused Angie to stumble back over the opposite railing. (Maybe copying Kiyo’s obnoxious way of talking was a biiit much. But that look on her face tho!)

“How dare you accuse me of something like that?!” She seethed, as if letting out steam to reveal how shallow her cold “cool” demeanor still was, no matter how fitting it was for her heartlessness.

“You’re only mad ‘cause she’s right, aren’t you?” Kaede challenged with an accusing point. “You chose the “friends” you wanted, not him. No point backtracking on that, with how you keep pointing out how much lower his “standards” are than yours. And if he got too close to others, he wouldn’t need you anymore, right? You don’t want to risk him moving on with his life, so you’d have to move on too.”

And that was all it took to make Kore really snap. Kinda sad how easy that really was, now that they could fairly safely gang up on her. (But not much more pushing than it takes to set me off either, is it?)

“I won’t let you take him away from me! He’s not allowed to abandon me now! I won’t let him throw me away again, to ignore me while I rot alone like everyone else did! I won’t forgive him. I won’t forgive anyone, no matter how many apologies I hear! Apologize all you want, but I won’t. I won’t. I won’t!”

An’ Thus His Parasyche Shows Her True Nature. The Ghost of a Broken Memory, a Revenant Remnant of a Dying Girl. Desperate to Forget She Was Not But a Child’s Guilt an’ Self Loathing Made Manifest, Grown Willful an’ Proud Feeding from Every Bit of Bitter Bile of His Soul He Thought Suppressed.

Angie was taken aback by His voice, but she knew it best not to question it. If He graced her with His assurances of conclusions she suspected, that was His choice. She had no right to address Him anymore.

She failed Him as His prophet, and everyone He wanted to help by acting through her.

As Angie shook off her brief shock she heard Kaede quelling the sins of Shinguji, with all others quiet. And with discussion settled Monokuma declared it was time for the votes to be cast one last time.

Well, last for her anyway. Though Angie felt no real need to condemn herself to her fate, she did so nonetheless. The last thing she wanted was for anyone to fear if they thought a third soul would be lost tonight. A glance to her side eased her own concerns, as Kore was quick to vote in her brother’s stead.

The last thing I want is for Kiyo to throw his life away after Ryoma died from my attempt to protect him. O’ Atua, I’m really going to die for HIS sake aren’t I? Please show mercy upon me my Lord, I messed up baaad this time. That prick isn’t worth all this harm and heartache! … I mean Kiyo, not Ryoma. Oh well.

Please watch over them all, okay Atua? Even if I wasn’t able to convince them of Your blessings. Amen.

Again, she felt only a sense of emptiness that equalled only the resounding silence where Atua once watched over her as the results were shown. No matter how much guilt Tenko may have felt for her role in setting the tragedy into motion, it was Angie’s face that was lit up in the end.

She tried to handle herself with as much dignity as she could, now that her end was before her. But she had one last thing to do before her execution began.

“Ah. Oh well. I guess I’m going to need to go on ahead. Sorry everyone, but it’s been fun!” Angie said with as much energy as she could, and twirled to give everyone one last looksie. “May Atua protect you all, and may you live long happy lives when the smoke clears,” she offered as a final prayer.

“Whatta bunch of bullshit,” She heard Kaito hiss to himself, and he looked far more conflicted now than he had in previous trials. He was a fair bit paler too, and hearing the way he coughed concerned her.

But before she could draw attention to the ill-boding red flecks she saw on his hand, Tenko drew her into one of the tightest bear hugs she’d ever been given. And considering Tenko’s previous hugs that’s saying a lot.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. It was stupid! If I hadn’t-”

“Hey, hey~ It’s okay, it’s okay! You couldn’t have known, and I don’t blame you or Ryoma! It was my mistake.” Angie rubbed at Tenko’s back, not wanting to make anyone’s stress worse just yet. She knew Kaede also saw the proof of Kaito’s injury, wherever it was. So they’ll be able to settle that later.

For now, Angie needed to try and lessen the damage she was about to do.

And a bit of tradition felt fitting in that moment, so Angie wiggled out of her raincoat and plopped it on Tenko’s shoulders, using the sleeve to uselessly wipe at Tenko’s mucky face. Tenko quickly caught onto what she was doing, as the waterproof material only moved the tears and gross boogers around rather than wipe them up, which got some very wet laughs from those around them as Tenko shooed her away.

“There! You look like you need it more than me, just look at how much rain you have on your faces already!” Angie stuck her tongue out at them in faux-mockery, hoping her own tears wouldn’t be brought up at her tease. “So take good care of it, m’kay? It’s important to keep parts of a person alive, and objects can hold memories just like brains do. So even if it stops being a raincoat, don’t get rid of it!”

With her parting piece said, there was no reason to postpone things any longer. Before Monokuma could snatch her away to meet Atua, and how he would try to break her spirit as he did, she squared her shoulders and gave everyone one last wave.

It was only then it occurred to her that blackeneds didn’t know what their executions were called.

Somehow not knowing made what was to come all the more nerve wracking than the anticipation a title left for those on the other side of the curtain. But she would never let that weakness show. If Monokuma wanted to make her frown or scream in “despair” she’d make that as difficult for him as she could.

That made the setting set before her all the more anticlimactic.

It was a snowy field, with a river nearby much like how the Virtual World’s setting was, and the sky above looked stormy. Angie wasn’t sure if lightning was possible during snow storms, but regardless of it was possible or artistic license that’s the direction it looked like things were going.

And as snake-like ropes bound her struggling form to a post like a lowercase t at the center of a pile of kindling she felt like she was ready to vomit, seeing the blasphemy he was going for.

Around her christianity based cross-of-a-lightning rod she saw ruined depictions of other faiths too. Everything from wooden sculptures like totem heads or scrolls of pagan gods were ready to burn.

Her thoughts were torn between Himiko’s lifeless corpse and the words her other self spoke before:

I’d rather avoid something witchy if I can.

So Monokuma made her take on the role of Joan of Arc (Joan d’arc? I don’t do french! Sorry Kaede) and was going to make the heavens “smite” her for her insolence. The crimes born out of best intentions and poor judgement, including those that happened long before Ryoma may have come to harm.

While there was no true being supporting Monokuma’s murder, Angie took a breath and prepared to accept it nonetheless. She felt an odd calmness within her as she saw the lightning flashes and resulting flames draw near her. As if it was Atua protecting her from the full brunt of her torture.

But when an all too human weight tackled into her, if this was His doing she wished he had forsaken her.

As kind as it is to keep her from dying alone, it was cruel to do so at the expense of one of her friends. But as her would-be savior tried to untie her, urging her to escape the stage, she couldn’t bring herself to voice those feelings. She simply tried to smother the pure gratitude that welled in her chest, and prayed for both of their souls as the thunder kept crashing down.

----

Tenko could only watch in silent horror as Kaito shoved Angie out of the way of the first strike. She watched as he struggled to untie their most innocent murderer, but as hard as she tried Tenko couldn’t hear anything over the sound of Monokuma’s thunder at this point.

But shouldn’t I be the one trying to save her? Or at least be helping him now? There’s only one Exisal left, so this would be as good a time as any to strikeback, wouldn’t it? I promised to protect Angie, didn’t I?!

Would she have ever done the same thing for you?

Tenko could only clench her eyes and teeth as shut as she was able to and looked away in frustration at that insidious thought. But only because she knew the answer.

She knew Angie wouldn’t even have considered saving her had their positions were switched. So in a way it was for the best that Tenko did the same thing, wasn’t it?

Unlike Kaito she had things she could still lose. Opening her eyes gave her a harsh reminder of that.

Gonta was beside her looking as torn and lost as she felt, standing on the sidelines as a “degenerate male” did what she couldn’t bring herself to do. And she knew that if she lept in to help Gonta would have followed her without question, because like Kaito that was the sort of man he was. A noble one.

And Kaito only had to die to prove it to you, didn’t he? Just like Ryoma did. Just like everyone kept saying. But you never wanted to listen, did you Tenko? This is all your fault. You failed Angie, and you’ll fail Kaito.

Her head felt like a mountain as she lifted it and shook her head at Gonta. The heartbreak and failure on his face would be forever ingrained in her memory. Because failing Kaito was the best they could do.

If we try to save him now we both might just end up dying out there with them, even without the Exisal. There’s nowhere for us to run to and he knew that going in. And if we all died who’d protect Kaede or Tsumugi!? Kibo? Even if he could, who’d protect him? He can’t save everyone on his own! He needs us.

Both she and Gonta could do nothing but weep as they saw Kaito try to pull Angie to a safety that didn’t exist. He couldn’t even see where the others were standing in all the chaos of the execution’s set. It was only a matter of time before the cruel god of this hell struck them down, as it gave up on avoiding him.

She almost thought Kaede and some others even began cheering him on, trying to help lead him back to them. But since even standing closer to the stage was enough to nearly drown them out, if that hadn’t been Tenko projecting her own feelings, there was no real point to it all.

So instead of joining in, or risk starting this chant of false hope if her mind was playing tricks, she just went close enough to hug Gonta as the watched. But with the way he held her she figured he was the one really doing most of the comforting. She could only hope she was helping him back in some way.

A part of her hoped the thunder would help mask her own wailing as the inevitable happened, only belatedly realizing a lot of that noise was now her other friends making similar screams. (But not Angie.)

It was only when she felt Gonta lift her that she noticed both of her knees had given out at some point. He still held her protectively, like this was still just a clingy two way hug to him, and carried her back to the group as she shoved her face into his chest to keep him from hearing her babble and whimper.

Not that any of it stopped when he cautiously put her back down, but she thought it would be better than hearing her incoherently try to blame herself for everything that happened. (Keeping him from correcting you for telling the truth was just another selfish benefit. You were just too scared to help.)

As he set her down Tsumugi was the first to cling to her as they sobbed together. A glance to Kaede quickly answered the question of why she wasn’t joining them.

The pianists eyes looked glossy with unshed tears as she blankly stared at the spot they could last make out Kaito and Angie, lost to the flames. She was on her knees, but looked broken in a way the previous trials hadn’t managed.

No one had expected Kaito to interfere, least of all her. Unlike Shuichi, his death wasn’t one Monokuma’s vile rules had forced upon them. He just threw his life away at the last minute.

But why did he do that?! He even cast a vote like the rest of us did, Angie’s guilt was unanimous. Was it just to spite Monokuma, dying in a way he didn’t want? He didn't even like Angie that much! So why-

“What the hell was that moron thinking?” She heard Kokichi cuss to himself, but he made no attempt to snap Kaede out of her traumatized trance. So Tenko decided to do what he didn’t think he could.

Tenko left Tsumugi’s embrace with a pitiful hiccup of an attempt to reassure her, and stretched Angie’s raincoat over Kaede’s far shoulder like it was a blanket for them both. (Is that how shock blankets work?)

Kaede made no indication she noticed, but with how much both girls were sobbing at this point Tenko didn’t mind. And Tenko took notice of how little the dying flames left behind of either of their friends.

It’s not fair! How can a person just… disappear, like that? Like if I didn’t have Angie’s coat it could be like she never existed at all. And everyone else who died in a trial left something behind, so why didn’t Kaito?

Maybe I should try making a momento for him? Like how Angie made her wax memorial figures.

Kaito never went without that printed jacket of his. I could try making the inside of Angie’s coat look like that. It’d be a lot of work, but I think it’d be worth it. Maybe it could help some of the others too...

Tenko distantly heard Kokichi try to stir the pot, something accusatory at either Kibo or Kiyo. She couldn’t be sure which. Whatever it was, she focused on trying to bring Kaede back to them mentally instead.

The two only moved when Gonta helped get them to their feet, so everyone could leave this cursed place in the elevator. But the ride up was deathly silent and as tense as a taught bow-string.

Kibo was the first to go and took off running, with Tsumugi’s lighter footsteps following after him. But the farthest Kaede could get was five paces before crumbling back to the ground and screaming loud enough for the stars to hear her. So Tenko did the same, rather than leave her like this alone and in so much pain.

Tenko looked up to see what Gonta intended to do, and assure him he could go if he wanted to, but the words caught in her throat. He looked to Kokichi, but the boy made it clear he wanted nothing to do with the misguided gentleman. Seeing the heartbreak on Gonta’s face as the small boy swatted a hand away and stomped off in the direction of their dorms, she chose to keep out of it. She’d probably just make more problems otherwise.

Hopefully Kokichi’s not going to hold this against him for long! Kokichi has more reason to hate me for planning a murder than Gonta. Mine got farther than his did, and Gonta deserves better than this.

She turned to see where the cause of all of their misery went off to, but as it turned out Korekiyo stood at the edge of the restored fountain as if he had barely moved since exiting the elevator. He kept… twitching, in a way that definitely wasn’t natural and his eyes were scrunched tight.

When they opened it was Shinguji who looked back at her, and when she removed the mask she was scowling at both of them. As if Kaede and Tenko had played any role in her own mistakes, much less her brother’s mental state.

She strode forward, trying to keep her distance from Gonta showing she was still wary of him, but couldn’t bring herself to leave the area. And not just in a figurative sense.

The hand that reached for the exit instead turned and pulled the mask back into place, and Korekiyo stood idle by the door as he faced them.

“My apologies if I am mistaken, but I am still not to be roaming about campus unsupervised, yes?”

Gonta startled at first, and guiltily looked at the floor before nodding his agreement. “It be better, yes. Gonta not know if Tsumugi go with Kibo or go to her room, so Kiyo could be threat to her.”

“Understood,” Korekiyo replied with a short nod of his own. “If it is not too problematic, should I help you escort our fair companions back to their dorms?”

“We can stand!” Tenko snapped at him after wiping away what tears she could, and refused to feel any guilt at seeing him flinch away. She tried to pull Kaede to her feet alongside her to prove her point, but Kaede’s legs were far less stable.

“Sorry, I-”

“It okay!” Gonta assured Kaede, flushed with humiliation as much as it was from her crying. “Kaede want piggy back? If Tenko can walk, Gonta can carry Kaede easy!”

“O-oh. Sure? I mean I don’t really remember the last time I got carried like tha-AAAAT” Kaede panicked at the end seeing as he was quick to prove true to her word. But even after she got herself situated her embarrassed blush didn’t die down. “Thank you?”

“You’re welcome!” Gonta smiled as brightly as anyone could after their hell of a night. “So we back to dorms now?”

“By all means, lead the way.” Korekiyo agreed, holding the door for the other three, as much as Tenko was loath to accept any “help” from him after all the confusion and death he’d caused.

Sniffling aside, the walk back was quiet, and there were no signs of any of their other friends. But that may have been for the best, as it encouraged going straight to bed if nothing else.

Not even she was ready to offer a “sleep over” after this. Tenko just wanted to sleep and hope this was all a stupid dream her mind cooked up out of guilt over her conspiring with Shinguji.

But it wasn’t. It never was in this horrible place that Angie had wanted them all to consider “home”.

Hell, she couldn’t even remember having a single dream in this prison. But thinking of dreams brought her mind back to her key. It felt like it was so long ago now, but it couldn’t’ve been more than three days. The thought and memories made her stomach do a flip without her in grief, but she held herself firm.

She had to try to appear strong. To help Kaede. To protect Gonta. To keep Korekiyo at bay.

Speaking of that bastard...

“Hey, Gonta, can we talk real fast? I know we all need some shut eye but I have a question first.”

Gonta gave a nervous glance to Korekiyo, who merely nodded and headed for his room for the entomologist’s peace of mind. But while her friend went off to the side so Tenko could hopefully keep Kaede from overhearing and make her worried, the murderer didn’t close his door all the way.

She tried not to think about it too much when she saw Kaede notice that too, and had a few quiet words with the unstable man which netted a nod to whatever she asked of him. Likely just to make sure he would still be breathing when the morning announcement sounded, knowing Kaede.

It would be wasteful for him to die now, wouldn’t it? I don’t know how to handle this. He doesn’t DESERVE to be forgiven! But at the same time… Maybe I should try, to make up for trying to kill him?

Is that what Angie would have wanted? Or would Ryoma rather I not leave the job unfinished?

Since when have you cared about what either of them really thought? Stupid selfish Tenko!

She shook her head to clear her thoughts as she made her offer. “Do you think it’ll be okay for me to help keep an eye on Kiyo? Since without Ryoma and Kaito, we…” The words caught for a moment in her tightened throat. “I don’t want you need to feel like you have to handle him all by yourself.”

“But it not safe! Kiyo sneaky person, could try to hurt Tenko without noticing.”

“I know. But if things with his “sister” really are different now, like if she’s all in his head, we don’t know how that could change things! He could try to hurt you too! Or maybe he won’t be killing anyone else-”

“Gonta can handle Kiyo! Tenko worry about Tenko, okay?” Gonta asked with a reassuring hand on her shoulder, and it took a lot of willpower to keep herself from trying to toss him on reflex. (Though tossing a guy THIS big could be hard even for me. He’s real good about keeping himself grounded and balanced.)

“But-!”

“Ladies shouldn’t talk about butts!” Gonta laughed at his attempt at a pun to try easing her worries. “If Gonta need help, Gonta ask for help. Gonta promise.” He swore as he crossed his heart with his hand.

“Alright. And I will be one of the people you can ask for help, whatever you need, okay?” Tenko reaffirmed, and didn’t allow him to break eye contact with her until he nodded his understanding. “Good! So, I guess that’s settled for now. We can work things out in the morning.”

“Okay. Goodnight Tenko! Don’t worry about bed bugs biting, Gonta already checked and no one has signs of those! Hope you sleep good.” (GAH, WAIT ARE BED BUGS REALLY REAL?! I DIDN’T KNOW THAT!)

“I-... Thank you? Sorry if you were hoping to find some I guess.” She nervously laughed as she headed for her door. “Goodnight!”

Tenko didn’t open her eyes once she entered that room, relying on muscle memory to reach her bed unimpeded. Anything to keep from seeing things that would make what happened that night harder.

But try as she might, the memories came to plague her all the same. And despite her best efforts, sleep refused to come easily. It was only until after her pillow was soaked from her futile fury and endless replays going over everything she could have done differently to avoid her current reality did it take her.

And it would feel like no time had passed at all when the next morning came, unrested and longing for just one night to allow her to dream and escape this hell on earth. Or wherever it was they were.

Not that the truth would help us any. Even if we were in space, Kaito wouldn’t have wanted it this way.

End of Chapter 3: We Lived and Let Them All Die Young

Surviving Members: 7

[danganronpa-matchmaker]

drv3 boys with an s/o that is really unemotional, but they make them laugh?

(Okay, so I’m going off the assumption that the boys are the ones who make their s/o laugh, but if its the other way around feel free to send another anon!)

Shuichi Saihara

You two have a very interesting relationship, and notably one that no one would predict. The two of you are both relatively reserved, especially compared to the rest of the group, and it’s rather surprising that you two would talk. Despite the face-level similarities, you and Saihara know that you couldn’t be more different. Even if Saihara’s quieter and more cautious, he still wears his heart on his sleeve, and in that sense you are near complete opposites. Sometimes he finds it frustrating that his s/o cannot level with him when he’s feeling traumatized or especially emo, but other times you two have a very special connection. There’s something about being with him that just completely breaks you, whether it’s his dopey emo attire, shy attitude, or some of the awkward things he says, you can’t help but laugh around him sometimes. The very first time that you burst out laughing near him it nearly gave him a heart attack, and it was at that moment that he realized how much he didn’t really know about you. Since then, he has become increasingly interested in you, although it’s not in your nature to spill what’s going on, and sometimes when he says that he doesn’t understand you, it takes all of your restraint not to tell him that you don’t really understand yourself, either.

Kokichi Ouma

Ouma has never been one to give up easily, and every time that you act ever so slightly unimpressed or aren’t completely moved by something happening, he can’t help but to pester you about it. His excitable, dramatic and attention-seeking nature barely faze you, and there is nothing that could upset him more. He is almost always at your side, trying to figure you out and asking you prying, annoying questions, but it’s nothing you haven’t seen before. Sometimes you two will get into a serious argument due to your starkly contrasting personas, and the more somber side of Ouma will come out. In many ways, you two have a very similar way of coping with the trauma around you, one of putting up a system of defenses around yourself, so even if you don’t say it out loud you share a similar core. At some point, you realized this, and beginning to understand him more has made him not only tolerable, but an enjoyable friend  to have around. You two share countless inside jokes, and often use a secret language of sorts to communicate, something that often makes you crack up. Every time he gets you to laugh it makes him very VERY excited. Later on in your relationship you two get along very well, although he’s yet to give up on trying to crack your code.

Kaito Momota

Kaito was clearly intimidated by your lack of emotion from the first moment you two really met. He’s been openly critical of you before, notably when you weren’t very close, calling you ‘soulless’. However later into your relationship together he began to realize that there was more depth to you, and has come to appreciate the few times when you do show emotion. Of everyone, it seemed that he was the one to undergo the most dramatic change in attitude towards you, being very oppositional at first and slowly coming to trust you strongly. You two have mixed communication at times, and that’s what occasionally causes some bickering, but you tend to resolve your issues very quickly. He sometimes worries that he’s failed you if he doesn’t get a reaction out of you, and when he does it makes him feel validated. He usually hides his excitement when he gets you to laugh, smirking a bit but probably trying not to get too carried away.

Rantarou Amami

You’re probably one of the few people that Amami doesn’t get extremely overprotective of. He is used to having to balance attention between multiple people, and when you aren’t crying or making a fuss he doesn’t always remember to look out for you, too. However moreso than anyone else he can make you laugh, and make you laugh hard. He is the balance between your more childish side and your more mature side, and you often find yourself being more expressive around him. Although he’s laid back, Amami runs a lot of stress around other people’s well-being, and he tries his best to make sure you are happy. Sometimes it seems as if he is being insincere or treating you like a kid, but that’s just his way of expressing affection. It’s very clear that he tries to entertain you, especially if he feels as if he hasn’t been giving you enough attention. You two rarely ever bicker but the one or two times that you have it has been him asking you to communicate with him better. He is very understanding of how you deal with things, even if he doesn’t always get you, and only asks that you tell him how to make you laugh more. 

Kii-bo

It’s a bit of a tired joke with the group about how you’re the more robotic between you and Kii-bo. Despite the joking, it’s incredibly true. Kii-bo’s got a much more up-front way of handling things, and can often be bewildered or flustered by your occasionally nonchalant reactions to things. Unlike some of the group, he will rarely get nosy or question you, but rather make a shocked face and move on with his day. He sometimes gets embarrassed in a situation due to his occasional lack of social knowledge, and will turn to you first if he’s got any questions. Kii-bo trusts you to be a very reliable and logical source, and has gained a deep appreciation for the times when you can keep things ‘strictly-business’ but also the times when you can laugh and have quite a bit of humor. He has commented multiple times that your laugh sounds nice, and has admitted that he’s recorded it so he can hear it whenever he wants. You informed him of the somewhat creepy connotations, but the intent appeared to be sweet.

Gonta Gokugahara

Gonta loves everything you do, unconditionally. As both a friend and a lover, he is very polite and very cautious with you. Sometimes it feels like the standard he holds you to is a little unrealistic, but overall you two get along very very well! He hates it when his emotions get the better of him, and admires and appreciates your straightforward and non-distorted views on things. You two represent the opposite ends of a spectrum and seem an unlikely match but have always understood each other at a core level. Despite everything you two try to stick to your ideals and put a heavy emphasis on being truthful with each other. Usually when he makes you laugh it’s not on purpose, but instead when he is blissfully unaware of the connotations of something, or when he’s especially innocent in certain matters. One of your favorite activities to do together is to create little ‘bug houses’, which usually have some tiny, probably unnecessary pieces of furniture crafted by the two of you. You’ve made all sorts of little dioramas, including a stage with little instruments you found at a thrift store, bathrooms with teacup tubs, cubicles, and when you get especially creative or whacky, it’s guaranteed to get a rare shared laugh out of the two of you.  

Ryoma Hoshi

Both of you have an outwardly quiet, collected persona that betrays your wide range of emotions, and thus have bonded very much through shared experience. You two have no expectation that the other one will get worked up, nor do you want them to. Hanging out together can be a very calming experience for the both of you in a way that you normally don’t experience with the others. He is notably more relaxed and charismatic around you, and you don’t feel as much of a pressure to act a certain way, and overall it has improved both of your health. Sometimes, when the world is feeling distant, it’s the close moments that you two share that keep you grounded and keep you from feeling detached from the world. It’s a very pure relationship, but one of few words. Sometimes your best dates and hang out sessions are just doing your own things (Drawing, reading, playing games, relaxing) but doing them in the same room or next to each other. In terms of humor, you were both shocked when he cracked a very dry joke offhandedly and you nearly burst with laughter. He would have never expected it from you, and you never would have expected his dry sense of humor.

- mod clover

[ultimafangirl]

Meeting Ambrosia (One shot) (for now)

Summary: When the kids of the latest killing game in up in Selphia they decide to make the best of things. Then Gonta makes a new friend.

Also on my fanfiction.net and AO3 accounts. Will link eventually.

Some chapter 4 spoilers are hinted at. Warning you now. 

(Actual story under cut.)

It had been a few weeks since the sixteen of them showed up in Selphia. Though none of them knew just how they had managed to end up there, although Angie did have a theory, they had all decided to make the best of it. And part of doing so was their decision to stick together. To try to get to know each other and become friends again without Monokuma and the threat of horrible death hanging over their heads.

Though that idea did have some setbacks. There was no place in the town quite large enough to fit the entire group after all. They had to be separated for a while, in various vacant houses, until a house was built that could hold all of them just on the outside of the town.

It was a decently sized place. Even if there were only three rooms. The first room functioned as a sitting room/dining room/kitchen. While the other two rooms served their roles as bedrooms: one for the guys and one for the girls.

The time together, even if they had all agreed to this, was awkward at first. However, in time, they did adjust. Not only were they reforming the friendships they had made before. But they were also recovering nicely. The phantom pains that plagued the majority of them had mostly faded into nothingness. And the night terrors, while still a problem from time to time, had faded as well with each others support.

-------------------------------------------

One day, with the chores done and everyone off doing their own things, Gonta decided to go for a walk in Yokmir Forest. Which wasn't unusual for him of course, even after everything he never really lost his love for insects and nature. He had little to worry about. The insect monsters had never bothered him once and the other monsters could do little harm to him as well. So into the forest he went.

He smiled at the ants and the beetles when he noticed something odd. While there were plenty of butterflies to be found in the forest; today their numbers seemed even greater than usual. So Gonta decided to take a look into that. Following the butterfly swarms carefully he was eventually led to what appeared to be a giant pupa.

Gonta was fascinated of course. This pupa was about the size of a human, larger than the giant ants or beetles that regularly roamed Yokmir Forest. And, of course, far larger than the butterflies that flew around it. Unfortunately he was unprepared to take a closer look at it, he had only intended on taking a walk after all, so he decided he would have to come back later.

-----------------------------------------

"Later" ended up taking longer than Gonta had planed though. There was some excitement in Selphia. First that a princess who had lost her memory appeared. The princess, named Frey, had spoken to everyone in and out of town that day. Gonta made sure to thank her for taking the time to speak to him of course. Then the next day a prince named Arthur arrived as well. Though Gonta didn't really understand everything that was going on in the castle he was happy to have a chance to make new friends.

Then the weather turned south. They were advised to not wander too far from the town for a while and Gonta was forced to put his plans off further. But finally the weather was sunny again and Gonta could once again head out to the forest. This time he was prepared.

Sort of. He was not prepared for the fact that the chrysalis to have hatched while he was gone. And he was definitely not prepared for the sight in front of him. To his surprise the insect that floated around was far more humanoid than he had ever expected. It seemed to have the appearance of a young girl, albeit one with green hair, dark purple wings and antenna. Some sort of grotesque flower-looking things seemed to function as a skirt and their thorny vines traveled down her legs.

She didn't seem to notice him at first, instead choosing to take in her surroundings. But when she did she flew at him with a speed that would have caught Ryoma off guard. But Gonta stood his ground and she stopped right in front of him. She seemed almost curious as she circled him, as if trying to figure out what he was doing there. It took a moment for the shock to wear off but Gonta quickly remembered his manners and straightened up to introduce himself.

"My name is Gonta Gokuhara and-" She backed away at his words. Gonta was worried that he may have scared her off. But she came back, looking at him curiously again, when she suddenly started making a buzzing sort of noise. Gonta nodded in understanding and smiled "Oh! It's very nice to meet you Ambrosia!"

Ambrosia flew around him again before smiling at his words and flying off.

----------------------------

Gonta continued to visit Ambrosia in the days after that. While she never really would allow herself to come too close, she had yet to attempt to attack him. But she would travel outside of the deepest part of the forest to greet him sometimes.

And today was one of those days. Gonta just arrived in the forest when Ambrosia approached. Gonta was smiling as he greeted his friend. "Good morning Ambrosia!" Ambrosia flew around him like she usually did before following him at her usual distance. "Gonta told all his friends about you!"

This, however, made Ambrosia stop in her tracks. She tilted her head at him curiously and Gonta found himself trying to backpedal. "Gonta told his friends that he met a friendly monster! But..." Gonta trailed off, looking sheepish. "Ventuswill did seem upset for some-"

At Ventuswill's name Ambrosia suddenly changed. She grabbed her head and the buzzing sounds became more erratic. Gonta ran toward her, hoping to calm her down. But his attempts did nothing and instead she lashed out and attacked.

Gonta took the full force of the attack and was knocked back toward the cliff's edge. Ambrosia seemed to turn red with anger and she flew at him again. Not wanting to hurt a friend, Gonta quickly dodged her. Only for his foot to slip.

For a moment Gonta seemed to hang in the air. His mind raced back to the last time he had felt this way, with his feet off the ground. Then he fell. Ambrosia flew toward him, this time with worry on her face, but he fell faster than she could fly.

-------------------------

When Gonta came to his head was hurting. His vision was blurred but he couldn't tell if it was from the fall or simply from the fact that his glasses had fallen from his face. He couldn't deny he was stuck though. He could hardly see to get out of where he was after all. And unfortunately, he had yet to fully master the teleportation spell that the others were able to use so easily. Though, admittedly, using it in his current condition was probably not the smartest idea.

"You're ok!" A girl's voice, one that Gonta couldn't recognize, called out. Gonta turned in her  direction but with everything blurry he couldn't make much out. A pair of hands quick grabbed his wrist and started to pull. "Come on! Everyone's worried about you!" The strange girl continued to pull and Gonta followed behind her. There were times where he could have sworn he sensed a monster nearby but the two of them were ignored. Gonta had questions of course but for some reason he couldn't seem to make himself ask them. Then after who knows how much wandering-

"Gonta!"

"What happened!? Are you hurt!?"

"We've been worried sick! Why didn't you teleport!"

"What happened to your glasses?" Gonta was quickly surrounded by his friends. They had been searching for him and they were checking to make sure he was ok. In the noise and minor bit of celebrating though, the strange girl had disappeared.

--------------------------------

Between making sure that he recovered completely and having to get new glasses Gonta wasn't allowed to do much for a while. But finally after replacing his glasses, and promising the others that he wouldn't scare them like that again, Gonta went back to Yokmir Forest. But this time he was surprised to see that he wasn't the only one there. Forte and Frey were had just destroyed a monster portal when they saw him approach.

"Good morning Gokuhara."

"Good morning Gonta! Are you feeling better?" The two of them greeted him and Gonta was quick to return their politeness.

"Good morning! Yes, Gonta is feeling much better today! Thank you for asking!"

"That's good to hear." Forte spoke up with a smile before her expression turned serious again. "The forest can be dangerous if you're not prepared."

"That's why we're here." Frey spoke up this time. "Venti- I mean, Lady Ventuswill asked us to take care of a monster that's been causing trouble. This way we won't have to worry about something like that happening again." Gonta nodded at her words and they soon split off as a group of orcs had appeared. While Frey and Forte fought, Gonta headed on to visit Ambrosia. He was hoping to apologize for upsetting her last time he visited.

In no time at all he arrived at the same place he had met Ambrosia. She quickly flew down to greet him, but this time her expression was different. Gonta couldn't quite place it but he quickly bowed. Before he could get a chance to apologize though a voice spoke up behind  him.

"Gonta! Get away!" Frey and Forte came rushing past him. Frey swung her sword at Ambrosia. The attacked missed and Ambrosia flew out of her reach. It took barely a second for Gonta to get in-between her and the other two.

"What are you doing!?" Forte and Frey both took a step back. They weren't used to seeing Gonta angry. This was a shock to the both of them. Forte recovered quickly and stepped forward.

"Gokuhara, this monster has attacked someone. We need to send it back to the Forest of Beginnings."

"No! It wasn't-"

"Gonta! I'm sorry!" Frey bowed her head to him. "But if we don't send it back it could hurt someone else! Venti asked us to do this so we can keep everyone-" An erratic buzzing sound quickly silenced Frey. The three of them looked up at Ambrosia. She was shaking and holding her head again. Then suddenly she appeared to flash red and flew straight at Frey.

"Look out!" Gonta was frozen at the sight in front of him. Forte had moved to protect Frey, and her sword had gone through Ambrosia. Shaking, Gonta fell to his knees at the sight. His skin itched and he could feel a pain he wished he could forget pierce through him. But he couldn't make himself look away. Forte pulled her sword out of Ambrosia who started to shake for a moment. Then her wings stopped and she fell to the ground.

There was a flash of light that blinded all three of them for a moment. And when it cleared Ambrosia was gone. And in her place was a young girl with green hair.

[blueseadespair]

Drv3 Alernative Mastermind AU Chapter 1 Investigation

Disclaimer: I don’t own Danganronpa. The usuall.  

No, there was no way.  There was no way That Tsumugi was dead.  She was just with us this morning spending fun together.  This had to be a bad dream.  But as much as I wished that, that wouldn’t be the case.  So everyone came to check out what the commotion was.

 Kaito: What happened!?  Why is there a dead body!?

Maki:…

Rantarou:…

Kirumi: It would seem like she was killed.

Tenko: Then it must have been one of you filthy men here.

Himiko: A, a dead body.  I think I’m going to be sick.

Rantarou:  It defiantly doesn’t look like suicide.

Shuichi: So you think it might be murder?

Kochiki: But, by who?  One of us?

Kaede: No, no way, Monokuma must have done something.

 As I said that Monokuma pop up out of no where.

 Monokuma: Upupupu, how mean~.  I did no such thing.  I won’t tell you who the killer is, but they are one of you.  One of you here is her killer!  Oh, man I thought nothing was going to happen.  I was getting sooo bored.  So, I gave one of you a push.  Bravo! Bravo!  You guys better do well to find the killer, or your going to find your selves punished. An now I present you the Monokuma file!

 After he said that, he vanished.  With his words though the atmosphere grew cold.  That there was a killer among us, distrust started to breed. After all that time trying to get everyone closer together for one of us to suddenly kill her.  It was unthinkable, but it happened.  Everyone was giving each other looks trying to analyze them.

 Maki: So, one of us actually killed her.

Kaito: D-don’t say that.

Kirumi: But that seems to be the case.

Tenko: We were getting along so well.  Who would want to do something like this?

Rantarou:  We don’t know that yet, but we have to investigate so we all don’t get punished.

Kokichi: Seems like a good plan, but, I’m investigating on my own.

Kaede: But wouldn’t I be easier to investigate together?

Rantarou: You can’t be that naïve, after all one of us here is her killer.

Ryoma: It would be wise to distrust each other until they’re found innocent.

Gonta: Gonta, will try and help out thought, if you need just call on Gonta for anything.

Korekiyo: Kukuku, then I will just watch all of you investigate.  I look forward to the results.

Tenko: Tenko will not let you!  Tenko will guard Tsumugi’s body!

Shuichi: Hm, that sound like a good idea, we don’t know if someone will try and mess with the evidence.

Ryoma: Then I don’t mind guarding as well.  Please go easy on me Tenko.

Tenko: Ke, at least your athletic, so you could help Tenko.

Angie: Angie will help out too, after all it happened in Angie’s room.

Shuichi: okay, now we should start with the investigation.

 As he said that, we all split up and did our own investigation. I decided to look at the Monokuma file.

Tsumugi Shirogane: Dead- Time of death 12:15. Multiple wounds are found on the body. Victim was also struck on the head, with what seems to be a blunt object.

As I read it, I realized that it didn’t say what the cause of death was, and that 12:15 was about 5 minutes after we found the body. So then she was just recently killed. She was still alive when we were trying to open the door.  So that was the voice that I heard, but it didn’t sound like her.  I went over to the body to check it out.  Over there Kokichi, Rantarou, and Shuichi were there also investigating the body.  I turned away reflexively, but had to resolve myself to look at it.

 Kaede: Did you guys find anything?

Rantarou: A couple of things, actually.

Kokichi: It seems like the Monokuma file didn’t have all the information, or was trying to hide some from us.

Shuichi: Like the true cause of death.

Kaede: What do you mean?

Shuichi: Look closely at the body.

 We called Gonta over to help us with the wires and were able to lay down her body.  Gonta then left the area to wash his hands. I did so, and found that Tsumugi’s ribbon was tied around her neck.  I also saw that a lot of blood was coming out of her body, so I didn’t notice, some blood coming out of her neck, as well as her mouth.  I also saw the blow to the head as well.  It seemed like a cruel way to die.  I saw her dead eyes, and they were full of pain, anger, and tears. After having a good look at the body Shuichi untied the ribbon.  It revealed a slit in the throat area.  I realize that that must been why it didn’t sound like her.  But that must have been what finally caused her to die.  I stepped out and looked at her body once again. There was still some heat coming off of her body.  Who could have done something like this?  When I thought that there was a figure that came into my vision.

 Angie: Angie found one of her hammers in a corner.

Kaede: This is-

Angie: Look~ It has blood on it.

Kaede: So this is what caused that wound.

Angie: If your suspecting Angie, It’s not her.  Angie didn’t use any of her hammers to make these statues~.  Also the wires hanging her aren't from this room either.

Kaede: I see.  Say weren’t you supposed to be in this room preparing for the event?

Angie: Angie had to get something so, she left her room for a bit.  When Angie came back the room to her door was closed.

Kaede: Did you see anyone suspicious during that time?

Angie: Nope.  And if you suspect Angie, you will be punished.

Kaede: O-okay.

 As I said that Angie walked off.  I say that, but she is suspicious.  But I might need to check Tsumugi’s room to see if there were any clues. I should also check the warehouse to see if there anything was taken from there.

 I decided to check the warehouse, there I found Kirumi, and Korekiyo.

 Kaede: Did you find anything interesting here?

Kirumi: Not much but just some missing wire.

Korekiyo: The rope seems to be all here though.

Kaede: I see. Say, Koekiyo, did you notice anything strange between Tsumugi’s event and Angie’s?

Korekiyo: Hm, Well I guess I could say that Tsumugi was acting a bit strange this whole day, Like she was waiting for something to happen almost.

Kaede: You mean like someone what trying to target her?

Korekiyo: I wonder.

Kirumi:  I too noticed that she was acting differently, perhaps she knew something we didn’t.

Kaede: I wished she would have told us something.

Kirumi: May be that would have inconvenienced her.

Kaede: What do you mean.

Kirumi: Perhaps she didn’t want to worry us, and kept it to herself.

Korekiyo: Humans sure are interesting.  I’m grateful for this opportunity.

Kaede: Tsumugi… Why?

 I felt bitter, but I had to continue to look for more clues. I decided to search Tsumugi’s talent room.  I went into it and found Kaito, Kiibo and Miu there.

 Kaito: It’s hard to believe that we were just here spending time and having fun here.

Miu: Kek, then one of us decide to kill.  But still I looks like she did clean up here.  It’s a fricking mess in here!

Kaede: True, I mean there was supposed to be a 1 hour break before we all meet each other again.  So she wouldn’t have time to clean up.

Kiibo: I suggest searching the place.  There might be clues here.

Kaede: Good idea, you search the stage area, I’ll search the bar area, Kaito can search the boxes, and Miu can search the clothes.

Miu: Kek, who do you think your ordering around chopping board?

Kaede: Then you suggest something good cow udders!

Miu: Cow, Udders! Hrng!

Kiibo: Please calm down!  Now is not the time!

Kaito: Yah, we have to search!

Miu: Fine, fine.  I just have to search these clothes huh?

Kaede: Yup.

Miu: Kek, you should be grateful that- OW!

Kaito: What’s up? Did you find something?

Miu: More like it found me!  Looks like it nicked me.  Hey robot!  What is this?

Kiibo: It would appear to be thread scissors.

Kaito: Hey it has some of you blood on it!

Kiibo: Wait, it also seems to have some old blood on it as well, one that has not come from Miu.

Kaede: So you think it is someone else blood?

Kiibo: Most likely.

Kaito: Good going Robo boy! And you too Miu for finding it!

Kiibo: Don’t be rude I have a name!

Miu: Kek, Natrually.

Kaede: Hrm, that seems to be all that we can find that can help us here huh?  Well I should go back, you guys keep on looking.

 As I said that I went back to the art room.  There I found that there was another clue.  They had discovered a ladder that had been used, by the blood splatter on the side.  Then Shuichi came to talk to me.  He said we should look at the body one more time.  As he said that Kokichi and Rantarou had come back for their own investigations.  When we were going to inspect her face, we found out that it had some powder on it, kind of like makeup.  Although when were going to search her limbs, we found the wire practically sewed around her joints. Shuichi decided that I should check her leg area, because he didn’t want to upset Tenko who was on guard, lifting up a dead girl’s skirt.  I agreed, and  nervously checked under her skirt to notice the blood that was coming from her legs were because wire was threaded around her knees.  We decided to undo the wires to figure out why they were tired up like that.  Though just when we were about to undo the sewing the announcement screen turned on.

 Monokuma: I grow tired of waiting and it looks like you all have screeched enough.  Now it’s time to begin the class trial.  I’ll be waiting.

Monotarou: Heh, looks like its finally begun!

Monosuke: You’d better be ready, because it’s going to be the time of your lives.

Monofunny: Just meet outside the water fountain!

Monokid: No way you could miss it!

Monodam:…

Monotarou: I can’t wait to see papa in action!

Monosuke: I know, It’s been awhile.

Monofunny: I don’t know It hasn’t been that long, has it?

Monokid: Hell who cares?  We weren’t even born yet!

Monodam:…

Monosuke: Well you better hurry up, or else those who are late are going to receive a punishment.

Monotarou: Well good luck.

Monokid: Your going to need it.

Monofunny: Don’t overwork yourself now.

Monodam:…

 With that it shut off.  We had to halt our investigation, and head over the water fountain.  When we all got there the Monokuma statue began to move, and reviled a secret passage behind it.  We all stood in front of it, in awe, and fear.  Cautiously we moved toward it, and went through the passage. It soon led to an elevator.  The tension was thick and the rumblings of the elevator didn’t help.  We were all nervous.  It was the time for judgment.  It was at time for mysteries.  It was a time of life and death.  It was time for a class trial full of lies and truths.

[lore-a-lie]

Chapter 3, Act 5: Shooting Stars

Daily Life- Free Time

Kaito was confident in his decision as he and Ryoma left the others to handle their own business. He was one of the few who figured he knew what Gonta might have been doing by taking Kiyo and Kokichi aside. “Keep your friends close and your enemy closer” as the saying goes. Kokichi spots a liar like no other, so if anyone would be manipulating Gonta, it’d be him and not Kiyo.

Not sure how I feel about anybody trying to trick Gonta into doing something, but everyone’d be safe at least. Plus if they knock Kiyo out or somethin’ Kokichi could share whatever’s spinning around in that screwy head of his. He’s not dangerous, but makin’ plans without letting any of us know what he’s trying to do can be, for him and us. And if he doesn’t trust Gonta of all people that kid has some serious issues.

And speaking of serious issues...

He risked a quick glance down at his friend again, but Ryoma was already looking at him and cocked an eyebrow in exasperation. Prolly makes sense, whether he’s meant to or not Kaito knows he’s been looking at Ryoma a lot while training this time. It’s not like he could help it, he’s just worried about the guy and moving his body like this just naturally makes him think a lot. ( As hard as it is to do that now.)

“If you want to say something to me, just spit it out already. It’s not like you to keep your mouth shut. Half worried you’ve stopped breathing up there, bud.”

“Ha ha, very funny. Haven’t left the atmosphere yet. But I was just thinking...”

“I’m so proud of you.”

“HEY! Seriously, I was messing at the arcade and the prizes got me thinking. Wouldn’t playing a match be better exercise than basic training?” Kaito offered, keeping his tone as carefree as he could as he kept an eye on the former pro. (As big of a mistake this might be, I gotta get him involved with something new.)

Ryoma stopped dead in his tracks as he glared at the astronaut, but Kaito saw more frustration and guilt than actual anger on his face. “What do you think you’re playing at? I told you that’s all in the past.”

“It doesn’t have to be though! And it’s nothing serious, just a simple match between us men! Unless you’d want to wait a bit, so Kaede can watch. Sure you don’t want to show off to her a little?”

“What’d be the point of that? Don’t be stupid.”

“Nope, not possible! The “point” would just be to have some fun. Live a little, make sure you have no regrets while we’re in here, that sorta thing.”

“If you’re worried about what I said about Kiyo then fine, but hearing you say this stuff worries me too. You sure you’re okay? You’ve been off for a while now, and that little rebellion you offered isn’t helping.”

“Then let's have a match about it!” Kaito suggested with his normal shit-eating grin. “If you win I’ll answer any questions you want, and if I win you’ll knock it off with that suicidal defeatist crap, deal?”

“Well now that you actually bet on it you know you’ve practically lost, right?”

“Then what do you have to lose?! It’s not like time in this “school” matters much until the motive shows up, so why not play instead of train tonight?”

“... Fine. One match. After you finish playing babysitter to Twisted Sister. Isn’t it about time to swap?”

“Gaaah, don’t remind me! Sure you don’t want to trade?!”

“Not a chance, she’d be one thing but Tenko and Angie are another. Not like I’d be much good at playing chaperone in the sim anyway.”

“Fuuuck. Kiyo I can deal with, but she just gives me the absolute creeps. You better show up, you got me? I’ll need something to look forward to after that bullshit. So this is a promise between men!”

“What does that even mean? It’s not like we’ve drank on it or anything. But fine, whatever you say.”

“And don’t forget to invite Kaede! I definitely want her to see me wipe the floor with you to break that “cool” image of yours already.” Kaito called as he headed off, tossing a present to Ryoma on the way.

He didn’t bother looking back to see Ryoma’s expression as he stared at the tube of tennis balls, but he distinctly heard the muttered “Stop with the teasing already” directed at him. Something about it was more disheartened than usual though. (Guess that’s one more thing I’ll need to ask him about! I mean it’s not like he’s tried telling her, right? And she’s bounced back from Shuichi pretty good hasn’t she?)

When he got to the computer room Kibo was just ending his “shift” and removing his headset before double checking the connections for Kiyo, Tenko, Angie, and Gonta. Which alone raised a red flag.

“Hey Kibo, Gonta’s not pulling triple shifts again is he?”

“Nope, just planning on a double. He just switched with Tsumugi, and expressed an interest in sticking around for Kokichi’s shift too. It shouldn’t be too hard on him, but I understand your concern.”

“Okay. Guy’ll just be spending a lot of time with Kokichi and Kiyo today, whatever makes him happy. But try not to let him stay cooped up in there for too much longer than that okay?”

“Not to worry, I’ve already talked to him about possible physical or mental health concerns. If I wasn’t so worried about bugs getting into my vents or anything I’d offer to spend more time with him and his bugs. Maybe he should start releasing them outside, so we could try “bug hunting” as a group activity?”

“Oh shit, I haven’t done that since I was a little kid! I betcha we have honey and stuff in the kitchen too, they’re great for bug traps. We could definitely try doing that sometime!”

“Great! I’ve never actually done that before, so it’ll be a first for me. And the extra space should be safer for both my systems and his smaller insects than staying in his lab would be.” (Yeah, if Kibo got a literal bug that could really mess him up. But I’m sure I’d be able to manage fixing it somehow, I don’t want him missing out on account of his body. I’m sure Gonta’ll understand if some bugs get hurt by accident.)

His hookup didn’t have any issues either, as he felt the moment his consciousness left his aching body without succumbing to the peace of sleep. Honestly, he didn’t realize how much he hurt all the time until he had this chance to be without it. It had just been part of his daily life for too long, despite his medications and painkillers. (I definitely see what Pap-pap meant when he’d complain about his arthritis. Really does change how you see and do things, whether you know it or not. Pain’s just a new white noise you ignore.)

Rather than waste time or heartache wondering if he’d ever see him or G’amma again Kaito focused his mental energy on finding where the three scariest girls he knew would be. Kiyo normally stuck to the buildings, and they’d been trying to keep him and his… “sister”, separated for the most part in here.

Which definitely has nothing to do with ropes or anything that considering would induce vomiting.

So he decided to test his luck outside! They were all outdoorsy people, weren’t they? Exactly. From that point, all he should need to do is follow the sound of giggling or other high pitched noises. Or maybe thomps if Tenko wanted to try her Neo-Aikido with someone who had a built-in bullet time.

I mean, that’s what I’d do, even if I couldn’t film any of it. It’d look awesome and it works against the power of gravity, which is even more awesome! But I’d never flip a girl, even if they wouldn’t get hurt. That’s just not right. And I’m not a girl, so this doesn’t really matter. Could ask Tenko about it though.

It turned out the three of them were just in the “woods” behind the buildings, so they were easy to catch up with. Obviously that thing was the one least pleased to see him, but Angie happily greeted him with a hug and even Tenko gave him a smile and a wave before prying the artist off of him. Angie clung to her as they walked away, chanting something in her native tongue as she and Tenko returned to the stumps they’d been sitting on despite the new awkward weight.

At least with this monster around, if the mental symptoms of his illness started messing him up he could mask it as fear again. Best of all that might be true enough to get by Kokichi without making the kid worry if it came up later. (It’s hard not to feel guilty when you know he sees every little lie as a possible danger.)

His job here was also easy enough. These girls could handle themselves physically just fine if this whatever-it-is tried to hurt them. Keeping their heads straight if “she” tried twisting them around was another story. Tenko was pretty gullible and naive where girls are concerned, and that bias was hard to break, while Angie could just as easily be as much a danger with that as this phantom menace was. (HA! Knew I still had a knack for the Sci-Fi puns! Pffft, “Menace”. Thanks Tenko, that makes it even better. I need to remember that one. Don’t want to waste it right now, Ryoma and Kaede are going to love it!)

“Hey you, get that creepy grin off your face! I bet you’re thinking of something pervy right now, aren’t you?! Creep. Leave it to a man to ruin the pure innocent beauty of female friendship.”

“Hold on there, I’m not! I was just thinking about something okay, I haven’t even heard a word you said!”

“Oh. Then good, keep it that way! Just because you need to be here doesn’t give you the right to eavesdrop.”

“... Orrrr we could let him join the conversation, couldn’t we Tenko? The more the merrier~”

“I agree with Miss Chabashira, I don’t want to risk you two lovely little angels being forced to sit through any more pointless arguments. After Idabashi did us the great kindness of switching with Miss Shirogane I was hoping to have one day of control without conflict.” It said, causing Angie to stick her tongue out mockingly in retaliation while Tenko got all giddy over being called a “lovely little angel”.

“Ouch. Jeez, no need to sugarcoat anything on my account. Guess I’ll just… stay over here I guess?”

“Good! Nice to see  some  people know when to respect boundaries after all.”

So to keep Tenko happy Kaito stayed off to the side, but still made sure to listen best he could. Which could have been better, since there was only so much BS he could take listening to at a time from Kiyo’s not-so-inner demon and the more standard girl talk felt wrong to focus on too closely.

Still, it should be enough to keep either Angie or that thing from doing too much damage. It helped how often they’d act to cancel each other out when one of them tried talking Tenko into something. Shame they also fully talked Tenko out of his anti-Exisal plan, but that could be for the best.

He was the only one running out of time. If anyone else died in his rush to escape he’d never forgive himself. (But it’s not like making them watch me die or have a trial over me would be any better.)

Maybe I can tweak the plan so I could take down that monster solo? I mean at least dying like that wouldn't cause problems for anyone else if things didn't pan out. Might not hurt as much in the long run either- I shouldn't think like that, we're supposed to escape together! I can't betray Kaede like this. What sort of man sabotages a kind promise like her's anyway? Heck, we haven't even had her piano lessons yet. There's too much left for me to do, I can't just let myself die now!

I'll just need to come up with something else. Something better and something fast. I'm not gonna die here, and neither is anyone else if I can help it. Not Ryoma, not Kiyo, nobody! Even if that thing that's supposedly back from the dead makes that a lot harder now. Can't get rid of it without hurting him, right? Both physically and emotionally...

Kaito's train of thought only brought his attention back to the matter at hand. The threat trying to wiggle its way into their group as if it was one of them. Whatever it was it was dangerous. That's why he was here after all. He clenched his fist in frustration as he focused back on the girls and the ghoul with them.

“- Honestly, if you think he talks like an old man now, you should have seen him when he was little. I can’t remember how long it took me to get him to stop calling himself “queer” when he meant... “different” or something.” (Hope I haven’t missed anything super important. But this could be.)

“PFFFT. Oh dear, oh dear. Guess he wasn’t really wrong, was he?” Angie said, smothering a giggle.

“Well no, but still! He was NINE, I couldn’t just let him keep talking like that around his peers.”

“You mean friends?” Tenko dryly offered, with hints of her own snickers.

“If he had those then yes, them too.” The words came from its mouth, sweet as cyanide. “Honestly this whole “making friends for me” has been a big misunderstanding. But I can’t TELL him that, because… Well, I don’t know what he’d do. This isn’t like teaching him not everything has to be written in cursive.”

“...  Murdering people  has been a “misunderstanding?!” Tenko nearly screeched in shock, before checking around to see if that had caught Kaito’s attention. Which she didn’t see, because he knew better than to show that he could already hear them just fine. (Even if it’s listening to this throw “her baby brother” under the bus to make itself look less suspicious. God I hope Angie and Tenko aren’t really buying this crap.)

“I was dying! I told him to “make friends for me”, as in “in my place” or “to make me happy”, because I never had a real chance to have any! Why wouldn’t I, when I was the only person I really knew he had? How was I supposed to know it’d turn into… THIS?”

“Uh-huh. Suuure~” (Good, Angie knows how full of shit this is too. So that leaves Tenko in danger.)

“It was going pretty well too, until that girl he met on one of his travels had an accident when hiking with him. You’ve seen how he gets when he starts panicking, when he started blaming himself I had to do something! So I… told him I’d be taking care of her now, that we’d be best friends, anything to calm him. In hindsight that wasn’t the best of plans, but it was all I could think to do at the time.” (Bull-fuckin’-shit.)

“Hmmm~ Like all you could think to do at the time when you weren’t dead was sexually abuse him?”

“That was completely different! Besides, it sure doesn’t sound like you have any right to judge us.”

“Miss Shinguji has a point. I mean some of your stories raise red flags too, especially with S-E-”

“Whaaaat? Angie’s people aren’t anywhere near this bad! Tenko’s so mean to me…”

“I am not!”

“Are too!”

“Are not!”

Kaito forgot how many times that back and forth went on for before It intervened. But when it did it said something about how close the two were before the three girls started exchanging hushed words.

When he tried to see what was going on he couldn’t make out much. Tenko was red as a beet, covering her face, while Angie had gotten up and draped herself over her friend and rocked her side to side. The fuckin’ flirt, because that’s what always got Tenko looking like that, was apparently teasing the girl over something making weird scissor and crossing gestures with its fingers.

Whatever it was, Angie nodded and knocked their heads together, making Tenko shyly peek out from between her fingers. Angie’s head-nuzzling just caused Tenko to close the gaps again and childishly start kicking her legs from her weird semi-fetal position on her tree stump. (I hope friendships between men are just as confusing to them as watching this pair of gal pals interact is to me.)

As if the world feared some may miss the hint little hearts started bubbling above Tenko’s head too, which gave her a reprieve from Angie’s cuddles as the artist began trying to either catch or shoo away the cutesy animations. The monster’s attempt to “test” if a blown kiss would have the same effect was definitely a case of the latter, pushing Tenko out of the way before chasing after it like a small animal.

As it looked like the abomination’s antics were annoying Angie to her limit and was only using this as an excuse to check in with him, Kaito quickly resumed his earlier position. Which, in his bid to “act natural”, was to try and weave a nearby bush’s branches together. (She’s an artist so maybe she’ll buy it!)

“Oh Hi-oh~ What’s the Kaito been up to?”

“Ohayō to you too I guess. Not much, just… Balancing guard duty with not pissing off Tenko? The usual.”

“Okie-doke. Did Kaito hear Kore’s excuses?” (Okay, she’s just making sure she’s not the only one aware.)

“Trying to make Kiyo out to be the only bad guy you mean? Yeah, and I’ll bet you it’s full of shit.”

“Well, no use betting if they’ll both be on the same thing! Except for Tenko. She won’t believe me...”

“Should you really be leaving those two alone then?” Kaito asked, looking behind her to see Tenko listening and nodding to whatever the threat was saying very intently.

“Not really! But it seemed like a good chance to make sure Angie and Atua aren’t the only ones looking out for her! Not that Angie doubts Atua’s protection, He just thought you’d be a good back-up back-up.”

“Well gee, thanks. I’m a more reliable guy than that you know!”

“... Hmm, Atua says no." Angie shook her head, before clasping her hands in joy to try and give Kaito a different sort of encouragement. "But He praises you for your “wicked positive vibes”! This is why He chose you after all.”

“Well Kaito says yes, and that’s no way to talk to a guy when asking for help!” He snapped back, trying to fight for whatever pride he could keep.

“He knows, He knows. He’s just grumpy because He hasn’t had enough blood sacrifices lately. So on His behalf Angie thanks you!” She chimed before giving him one of her trademark hugs. (Boy it’s weird being at eye level with such a tiny chick.)

“Yeah, yeah. Why don’t you go make sure those two are behaving or something, okay?” Kaito told her after returning the hug and giving her head a good ol’ “good luck” head rub for good measure. She playfully swatted his hands away before skipping back, sticking her tongue out at him as she went.

Not too much else of note happened after that. Tenko made no indication she was aware of Kaito doing his job better than she wanted him to, Angie didn’t sound like she was pushing any agendas, and the monster stayed civil rather than try to shift blame anymore.

The game’s world had no day or night cycles, so Kaito only knew his shift was over when Kokichi showed up. Which was made easier by the fact the boy would not let you ignore the “changing of the guard” as he put it. (Small blessings: Kibo did not give him access to any trumpets or tubas. Hopefully never will.)

He also wasn’t alone, as Gonta and Kiyo were in tow when he found Kaito and the girls.

Seeing Kiyo was enough for Angie and Tenko to get ready to go, though the living lie still went through the motions of cheerfully greeting and clinging to “her brother” as if nothing happened. The boy even gratefully accepted it with even more enthusiasm, not at all suspecting she was trying to screw him over. (Then again why would he? Poor kid. This is too many levels of fucked up. But someone needs to know.)

As Angie and Tenko headed off to the mansion, Kaito beckoned Gonta aside to make sure he understood the dangers here. Can never be too careful, even with Kokichi hanging around. And with the siblings keeping each other’s attention this was his best chance to keep him up to date.

“Hey big guy, you still doing okay? Heard you’re pulling a double today. If you want Kibo could still probably get someone to switch with you.”

“Yup, Gonta good! Kokichi thought it be good idea to hang out for longer and give Kiyo time with Sister Kiyo. So everyone be happy!” (... I mean he’s technically not wrong. He’s way too nice for this bullshit.)

“Good. Really good. Just don’t get too comfortable with how “happy” the two are together, okay?”

“Uhhh, If Kaito saying Gonta need to be vigilant chaperone he no need worry! No un-gentlemanly things will happen, Gonta promise!” (OH GOD NO ACK FUCK GODDAMMIT SHIT I DIDN’T MEAN IT THAT WAY!)

“Not what I meant! I mean good, but… Gah, sorry I made you think of that.” Kaito said, but he was speaking more for himself as he scratched at his neck. So he tried to change the topic to one far more wholesome and help ease Gonta’s concerns about his intelligence. “But hey, nice vocab work there buddy! You been practicing?”

“Thank you! Kiyo and Kokichi been helping a lot with new words.” (... Not the first two I’d trust with this.)

“Good on ya then, keep it up! But still be careful around them okay? And watch out for Kiyo’s “Sister”. She’s been telling Tenko and Angie a bunch of lies lately, so I don’t want her messing with you too.”

“Well fuckin’ duh. What the heck baldy, you going senile on us? Like Gonta’d ever fall for anything she says.” Kokichi snickered as he popped out from behind Gonta. “I mean seriously, it’s not even like he’ll be the one watching her. That’s my job! And she suuucks at this, it’s almost sad. At least Kiyo  knows  not to try.”

“Hey, who you calling bald?! Seriously, I’m like the LEAST bald guy here!”

“Oh yeah, ‘cause gluing some hair to your chin instantly means you have more of it than our two walking wig shops. C’mon, why else would you be geling it up to look  that  ridiculous?”

“Excuse you, just because you haven’t hit puberty yet doesn’t mean the rest of us haven’t. This is completely natural thank you very much! I know you’re just jealous of my style, no need to hide it.”

“Right! If Kokichi like Kaito’s hair he can say so. Just like if Kaito getting bald spot he no need to comb hair over it. Friends don’t judge!” (NOT YOU TOO GONTA!)

“I am not! There’s nothing to judge!”

“Oh really? That’s a change of pace, isn’t it?” A feminine voice came from behind Kaito, who immediately regretted his choice of words. He could practically feel that sick smug smile It had as It glared at his head.

“Indeed, that would be nice to hear.” Kiyo wistfully agreed. And with the moment of distraction gone that was Kaito’s cue to get the hell away from them head back.

“Wha- Well, whatever! Have fun on your double date, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!” Kaito teased as he gave Kiyo a pat on the shoulder and Kokichi a shove, earning him an eye-roll and the pest gagging himself respectively. Then he made his escape before he could suffer any consequences or embarrassment.

“Okay, we won’t, Gonta promise!” Gonta called as he waved gleefully back, much to Kokichi’s sputtering and the Thing’s jeers about Kaito’s normal behaviors.

A quick look at his Monopad after getting out of the simulation showed it was nearly nighttime as Kaede and Ryoma were already in the Tennis Pro’s lab so he rushed down as fast as he could. There couldn’t be a better chance to play a match, and with how things had been going Kaito couldn’t know if he’d have the chance again. (Even if this means interrupting a “moment” here. I mean, he probably won’t mind!)

It didn’t take long for him to catch up with them, and since his friend wasn’t a human tomato it looked like he had pretty good timing too. He tried to ignore the twinge of irritation he felt, writing it off as a holdover of his frustrations about how closed off the guy could be, as he got their attention.

“Hey~ Look who already beat me here. And you brought our audience, good of ya to not chicken out!”

“Ryoma, what did you rope me into?” Kaede asked, giving the guy a suspicious side glance.

“Somethin’ stupid,” Ryoma answered, but nevertheless nudged her in the direction of the nearest spotter’s seat. (Aww man, I forgot his lab had two of them. Wish there was someone else here to watch.)

Kaito shook the thought from his head before it could distract him from the moment at hand. With as much pep as he could muster he spelled things out for her. “You’re gonna be our ref!”

“You’re having a match already?! You could have given me some warning at least, I would have brought my pants if you did.” She grumbled and only then Kaito and Ryoma realized a potential problem here.

The spotter’s seat was obviously set higher than the top of the net. Since they basically ended training, she wasn’t dressed for exercise. And with how short her skirt was… (OH CRAP. Please don’t notice, please don’t notice, please don’t notice! I swear I won’t look! But hey if Ryoma does I’ll still cover for him.)

“So I just have to speak up if the ball lands outside the court?” Kaede asked, oblivious to the two flushed faces behind her as she reached the latter up to it. After both breathed a sigh of relief (not that her being seated would fix the problem per say) Kaito and Ryoma silently agreed and faced away from her. Just to be safe while she was climbing and all, even if this angle should have been okay until the top.

“Hello~ Earth to space cadets, I can’t be a referee if you guys don’t tell me how!”

“Uh, Yeah! If it bounces on the line you just need to make the call for if it’s legal or not! That sort of thing. Don’t worry about it too much, just go with your instincts!” Kaito nervously answered, and saw that the universe had deemed his stint in the sim punishment enough. With the way Kaede was seated his worries about things that must not be seen were unfounded! At least until she needed to get down.

“It’s really just so you can have a comfortable view for me wiping the floor with him,” Ryoma added.

With a laugh Kaito figured they were ready. “Can it and just serve a ball or something!”

To say Ryoma utterly decimated him was an understatement. There wasn’t a shred of mercy in that man’s eyes the few times Kaito had managed to see them before it was over. And that wasn't including any of the times Kaito purposely avoided the ball for fear of his safety. Surely he had shamed the Momota name for decades to come, and not even the depths of outer space would ever allow him to escape it.

“You can stop groveling on the floor you know. Jeez, why’s every guy here such a drama queen?”

Clearly Kaede had about as much mercy as Ryoma had. It was a dark day for humanity.

“Just leave him be. He’s prolly looking for what’s left of his ego down there. You can go on ahead.” Ryoma told her, heartless traitor that he was. (AND YOU WON’T EVEN OFFER TO WALK HER BACK?! THIS IS NO WAY TO TREAT YOUR WINGMAN DUDE! No, I don’t care that he never actually took me up on that offer.)

Ryoma only raised an eyebrow when he noticed Kaito’s glower after she left. “I did warn you this would happen.”

“That’s not it, why’d you pass up on an opportunity like that again, man?! It was all set up for you.” Kaito complained, brushing his pants as he got to his feet. But he knew it wouldn’t keep Ryoma from asking his real question for long. A deal was a deal.

“I told you already, I’m not gonna pursue anything. So what’s really been going on with you?”

For a moment he was tempted to tell him everything. About his illness at least. Then, if worse came to worse, someone would be able to tell the others what happened. Maybe help soften the blow. Help explain why Kaito kept preferring to blame people who felt betrayed for their pain rather than the selfish assholes who broke their trust in the first place. But he couldn’t. As much as Kaito wanted to, he didn’t want to burden anyone else more, and he couldn’t find anything to say in place of the truth.

“It’s because of Maki, isn’t it?” Ryoma asked, encouraging Kaito to take a seat beside him on the floor.

With lack of a better answer, Kaito gave a non-committal shrug as he joined his friend, even though he had to tilt his head at a kinda awkward angle to look down at Ryoma like this.

Seeing as Kaito still didn’t have anything to say, Ryoma tried a different approach. “I ever tell you the story of how I got my cat?” He asked, knowing Kaito would shake his head no. With a wistful smile, he began.

“My girl from America got it for me. Sprung that sweet ol’ grey puffball on me on what I thought was just a normal date. “They said it was blue, so you both match!” she said. Easily one of the happiest moments of my life.” Ryoma scoffed for a moment. “‘Course it didn’t help that she picked the place, an aquarium, so anything would have been uphill from there. Can’t stand fish, but she adored ‘em. Especially sharks.”

Kaito gave a sympathetic chuckle. “Talk about whiplash then, huh?”

“Definitely. I was just lucky the poor little powderpuff was as spooked by those monsters as I was. Shortest trip we ever spent there.” He turned to face Kaito. “You know why I’m able to talk about this sort of stuff now?”

“Let me guess “Because I know she’s in a better place” or something sappy,” Kaito joked, and Ryoma didn’t seem the least bit impressed by it or his attempt to imitate the other’s deep voice for it. (As if we’d have any assurances like that with a girl like Maki anyway. Fuck.)

“Because I took the time to face what happened to her. Tell me, have you grieved for her yet or are you just trying to push and distract yourself from how you feel?”

“Come on, do you think she’d really like a guy crying over her? Totally uncool, a man shouldn’t do that.”

“Screw that garbage. The tough macho types are pretty uncool too, you know." Ryoma said with a look on his face that left little room for arguing or excuses. "You don’t need to cry to grieve for somebody if you physically can’t. I just want to know if you’ve done anything to help yourself.”

“You’re one to talk, it’s not like you’ve done much yourself from the looks of things-”

“I was the one that found her, Kaito. Don’t think for a second I was able to just immediately go and get you or anyone else. How could I? We both thought she was just running late that morning despite agreeing to meet up. I thought I’d be asking Kiyo if he saw her anywhere in case he spent an all-nighter, not… that.”

Kaito’d be lying if he said his throat wasn’t closing up at the memory, and he couldn’t imagine how much that must have hurt. But the benefit of that was he couldn’t say anything to lie about it in the first place. Ryoma must have seen his eyes begin to water some as he seemed more at ease than before.

“The trial’s one thing, but we’ve never talked about it after. Ignoring the pain won’t help here, I know. I tried, and instead it festered and look where that got me.” The Ultimate Prisoner continued to take the burden of speaking off Kaito for a bit longer. “It’s okay to vent. I’m here for you, we all are. We get it.”

“B-but…” Kaito didn’t want to think about how his voice cracked up before he tried again. “She didn’t get the chance to do it.” He wanted to ignore the burning tear-tracks he felt on his face as he spoke. “She hadn’t overcome her true enemy yet. And it looked like she was getting so close.”

“Monokuma? We weren’t that close-”

“Not that!” Kaito snapped, but it only made what he wanted to explain harder to say as he struggled to get enough air in him. “The same one you’re fighting. It looked like she was finally opening up a little.”

God, I hope he understands. They’ve always been their own worst enemies, trying to push everyone away. Thinking they aren’t good enough to have anyone close to them. Despite those morons were just making that harder for them, Maki still made good strides there. She accepted my invitation to the casino, she dragged Kaede into our training nights, she was doing so well and then she- She tried, and Kirumi still- “FUCK!”

Ryoma put a hand on his back, too short to reach his shoulder, as Kaito just screamed and punched the floor in front of him hard enough to hurt. “Yeah. Yeah, she was.”

For the longest time that was all there was to coherently say. Kaito didn’t know how late it was when he calmed back down to head to bed, but Ryoma stayed with him the whole time. A rock to rely on. But when the emotional waves receded, for now at least, Kaito was never more grateful to have him as a sidekick.

And for once that title almost feels right. ‘Cause who am I kidding? I know who’s the real hero here.

If I was we’d be fucked. When I go it’d leave too much of a hole behind me, like the aftermath of a supernova. I’m just the mentor here, and you don’t call their students “sidekicks”.

Still, to support me like this should also mean Ryoma should be okay if I go. And if he isn’t then he can see if Kokichi’s willing to share Kaede some. Thank goodness for her. Real shining star that one.

Worst come to worst I know these people are in good hands.

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[lore-a-lie]

Chapter 2: I Spit on Your Grave Expectations

Daily Life

Kaede wasn’t sure what to expect after that argument, but when she got to the dining hall the next day after washing the crust from her face and the redness from her eyes it was clear things had only gotten worse. Kaito was yelling at Angie about something and their group of friends was visibly split in two, the sets standing on opposite sides of the hall, but that wasn’t what concerned her the most. Kibo was.

He was pink now. Every bit of his previous gentle cyan lighting was gone, leaving only the nearly toxic looking magenta glow in its place. Even the glare he gave her was an intense pink rather than his previous desaturated blue, which shook her for reasons she couldn’t explain beyond feeling “wrong”.

And as around his neck, catching the light despite the shadows there, was Miu’s layered necklace he salvaged the night before, clean and repaired, she didn’t need to wonder why he did. That was a fair enough warning for what this was about.

Kaede wasn’t a good enough leader for them so Angie wanted to take over her responsibilities.

And had Miu not asked this of me I might have been fine with going along with that. But she did, as our friend, so I can’t give up quite yet. Right? Or did Miu just make another mistake putting her faith in me?

The way the room was divided the two new “groups” was pretty clear. Those in support of Angie’s new leadership were Kibo, Tenko, Tsumugi, Kirumi, and Gonta. Her friends that wanted to keep supporting Kaede’s own attempts to protect them were Kokichi, Kiyo, and Kaito’s trio of him, Ryoma, and Maki. (Little wonder this would happen the day I was the last to arrive huh? Not that I’d blame anyone here.)

“Kaito, please calm down! Let’s just try to talk about this okay? “This” is about how I’ve been leading everyone so far right? Just tell me what’s going on.”

“Atua doesn’t believe you’ve been doing a good job at keeping everyone safe. You are good at bringing us together, but only in ways that have better enabled us to turn on each other. He doesn’t feel only Monokuma’s motives are at fault for that, as you haven’t tried limiting the means for our betrayals. And so He told me Angie should be the one to lead us now, and to make rules to help protect everyone here! We can’t keep hoping for your dangerous dream of going back outside Kaede, we’ve lost enough of us.”

“And that’s why I’m calling bullshit! How long do you honestly think we could stay here?! Have you seen where our food’s been coming from? Any medical facilities, or even a goddamn nurse’s office?! We can’t trust anything here to keep us alive in the long term you idiot!” Kaito was still furious, for good reason.

He should know more about the dangers of being stuck somewhere without any means of protecting or repairing the resources everyone will be relying on than anyone else here, given his talent and experience. And yet Angie and her supporters kept completely ignoring his warnings and concerns.

“But Atua says it’s safe here, and it’s not like we have any better options. Without a safer alternative it’s plain to see this is the best course of action we can be taking, isn’t it?” (No it isn’t. I need to step in.)

“Tsumugi weren’t you the one to warn me to be wary of cults and con artists? Because it’s sounding like you should be taking your own advice right now you know, you can’t just pretend Kaito’s wrong here.”

“How could she? She and Angie were both Con Artists already aren’t they?” Kokichi mocked, looking for all to see like a cat playing with a canary as both girls glared at him for the pun. (But he’s not really okay with what’s happening here is he? This is too dangerous to allow things to keep going on for long, right?)

“Who are you calling a cult?! We are-” Tenko’s yelling was cut off by a familiar chorus of “Rise and Shine, Ursine”, minus the loudest and deepest voice in their tune. The set of three cubs and their father stood in the middle of the room.

“Hello~ my children! My, my, aren’t you all just chomping at the bit today? At least you’ve got a lot of energy for your exploring later, haven’t you?” The three little cubs kept looking between themselves as their father talked, as if communicating amongst each other while he was distracted talking to the class. “And boy do I have some presents for you~ A wonderful set of rewards for you all surviving so far, won’t that be fun? Come on kids, show them their fantabulous new prizes!”

“No.” The monotone syllable got everyone’s attention, all eyes on the half green bear and his siblings.

“... What? Sorry, must have some stuffing in my belly button, it sounded like you said-”

“Not happening pops. Why should we be listenin’ to ya anymore huh?”

“What do you think you’re playing at kiddo?” Monokuma wasn’t amused by his tiger-striped son’s reply.

“W-we talked about things after the last trial! W-we keep dying and no one cares at all but us! S-so… So we won’t do this anymore! We have the Exisals, so we’ll just do things our way from now on daddy!”

“Though this all bein’ said we prolly should hand out these little doohickies shouldn’t we? But let’s try ta change things up! No more o’ this givin’ you the things and then sit back while you bumbling bastards try to sort their puzzles out business! Each o’ us will keep the keys we got as youse guys figure out where to you’ll need to take us. Will we be helpful? Annoying? Try to lead you astray? Who fuckin’ gives a damn!”

“... This is fine. I mean it’s good you kids are taking some initiative right? This is a good thing for a father to witness, this isn’t a cute lil’ coup d'etat by my Ultimate Lil’ Monokubs or anything, nope not at all.”  

Despite saying that Monokuma was somewhat dazed as he mumbled something about going back home to his cubs who do still like him, sounding somewhat delusional given they’re all here. As he wandered off the pink cub- Monophanie, took out three items to pass out to her remaining brothers. She kept the literal pixelated key for herself, Monosuke was given the ninja scroll, leaving Monodam with the golden hammer. But after doing this the cubs looked at a loss over what they were meant to do next.

“So… Now, what Monosuke? Do we just split up?”

“Uhh… Yeah, sure why not? I don’t wanna to spend any more time with a certain murderer I could mention anyways.” Monosuke gave Monodam a pointed glare at that, but Monophanie’s flailing about trying to deny what he did was more of a response than Monodam’s own stoic stare.

“Then-Let’s-All-Get-Along-With-The-Bastards! Let’s-All-Be-Friends-Now, No-Need-For-Killing-Games!”

“WHAT?! Not a fuckin’ chance, the Killing Game’s the most fun we’ve had! Why should we give it up?”

“I don’t know, making friends could be nice, and no more gross gory bodies to deal with. Let’s give it a try at least, we can always change our minds later right?”

“Fuck that! You two can go play house, or class, or whateva the fuck this shit is but I’m out. If any of yous guys want to use my item I’ll be outside to see if ya can get me ta put it where it needs to go, capisce?” And with that, the bespectacled bear squeakily stormed out the door to the porch as the humans watching things unfold remained speechless. (I mean this is too stupid for words right now isn’t it???)

Angie was the first to break the silence as Monophanie and Monodam kept looking between themselves, their items, and everyone else. “Well we already made ourselves into two groups so this works out well, doesn’t it? Praise be to Atua and his foresight of your own changes of heart!”

“What’s an Atua?” (An excellent question, but not one you should ever ask bear. You’ll see.)

“A term stemming from Polynesian cultures that can mean “power” in a more supernatural sense, like “mana” which is quite different from the apparently common video game concept of the same name. However this typically refers to gods or spirits, in this case specifically for a presumably monotheistic entity that-”

“Atua is Atua silly! He’s all knowing and carefully watches over everyone, like a loving father!” Kiyo did not appreciate being cut off mid-lecture by Angie’s attempt to recruit another member to her cause, but he did at least capture Monodam’s attention.

“Apparently common”? Has he not played any games with it before? That’s weird. I wonder if this means Himiko told him about that before she… When they talked before the show. She knew a lot about that sort of thing, so it might have been what helped her and Angie bond too.

“Angie told Gonta Atua was like Grandma, Atua change?”

“Yup-yup! Atua changes to whatever He feels will help those He cares for best after all!”

“That-Sounds-Rather-Unreliable. And-Convenient-If-You-Are-Making-Him-Up, To-Claim-He-Is-Where Ever-You-Say-He-Is. How-”

“It’s is not the place of mortals to question Him or His divine grace you know?” (And so hails the return of Angie’s scary face, oh joy. If there is a God why do I need to be the one to put up with this right now?)

“No-I-Did-Not. But-Father-Claimed-He-Was-Our-God-Too-And-Look-At-Him-Now. We-Don’t-Need-Yours, Right-Monophanie?”

“Hmm, but Daddy was lying about that wasn’t he? Maybe this “God” is different. Why not give it a try?”

“I-Do-Not-Want-To. It-Doesn’t-Seem-To-Be-Helping-Others-To-Get-Along, Just-Making-Them-Fight.”

“Religion has been known to do both, faith can be quite the terrifying thing when taken to extremes. Particularly those that leave no room for compromise or allow themselves to mix with their neighbors. Among many pantheons, it’s common to find deities that in fact originated somewhere else and became incorporated over time to help pacify and better unite with other cultures.” (Nice trivia Kiyo, but no one cares.)

“Why not you come with us then Monodam, while Monophanie can go with Angie’s? Are you going to tell us where your item belongs? I don’t think I’ve seen anything for it before.”

“I-Don’t-Think-”

“I like that plan! Let’s go!”

Monophanie was quick to leave with Angie’s cult, which upset the remaining bear. If his goal was staying as a group he was proving pretty bad at it with how eager his siblings were to avoid him, given his involvement with Monokid’s death and their own personalities. But seeing Kaede’s expectant face he lit back up again, seeing them as other people he could try to “get along with” instead of his siblings.

“That’s-Because-You-Haven’t-Yet! It-Is-Up-Stairs-With-The-New-Labs, I-Will-Show-You!”

Alas, he forgot the stairs he was thinking of were still locked behind the supposed mural of the pixelated door that required Monophanie’s key to open, so Kaede had to hurry after Angie to see about that first.

After some negotiations between the two it was agreed that since the Magic Key had the most obvious use and Monodam’s item would be used in the area it unlocked Angie’s group would be headed outside to solve Monosuke’s Ninja Scroll puzzle instead.

Monophanie was rather relieved this would mean she wouldn’t need to go to the fourth floor yet and instead would get her more time alone with Monosuke, which in hindsight should have been a warning.

Following Monodam soon proved to be a mistake. Not an avoidable one, and not one that was his fault in particular, but it felt like a mistake nonetheless. The fourth floor lived up to the creepier associations with a number a bit too well in Kaede’s opinion. And that’s only speaking from the top of the stairs, they hadn’t even been to any rooms yet. (AND I DON’T WANT TO. AT ALL. WHY IS IT SO SPOOKY?! ... Kiyo’s lab is here isn’t it? It’s gotta be here with this atmosphere and everything, it suits him way too well. Welp.)

Kiyo apparently assumed the same thing as he gravitated to a set of traditional shoji style doors, unlike all the others in the school. Kokichi quickly followed after him while Kaito stayed where he was, sweating and trying not to look at anything around him.

Ryoma was rather amused by this as he tried leading his friend down the halls but given the scream that could not have been from Maki and Kaito dashing back and practically flying back down the stairs that was clearly a lost cause. It didn’t stop an annoyed Maki from following after him to literally drag him back by the arm though, as if in payback for all the times he practically did the same thing for her.

“C’mon Maki Roll, we don’t need this many people here right?! I can go see about the Ninja Scroll or something-” Kaito tried to argue, but she was still having none of his excuses.

“Not a chance. I thought a “manly” guy like you is supposed to be brave, aren’t you?”

“W-well… I mean… T-that’s why it’s good for you and Ryoma to do this alone! It’s-”

“Better for you to face your cowardice here then. You are the only one with a problem, idiot.” Maki challenged with an air of finality that seemed to shut Kaito up for the most part. Minus some nervous keening noises Kaede could hear as he was being pulled away.

Kaede chose not to draw attention to herself and how she proved he really wasn’t the "only one with a problem" and instead made her way with Monodam down the hall to a set of three doors.

She opened the first to see what was in it, only to let out a shriek of her own and slam it shut again upon seeing what she would swear was a familiar looking bear-shaped ghost floating inside. As Monodam grabbed her hand and made a dash back to the anthropology lab she wasn't the only one.

Had she not been so frazzled by everything Kaede probably would have found the confused looks on Kokichi and Kiyo’s faces hilarious, at least before Kokichi started to laugh at her own expression instead.

“... Might I inquire to what exactly that was about? If you’ll pardon my use of the phrase, you look like you’ve seen a gho-” Kiyo tried to ask, choosing to have marginally more tact than the local liar. If only his choice of words had been better.

“Don’t. Say it. Something was in one of those side rooms, honest!” Kaede tried to explain as convincingly as she could, but with everything going on and only the furiously nodding Monodam in her defense that wasn't saying much.

“Indeed, It-Was-Monotaro! But-Different-Than-He-Used-To-Be!”

“ Please tell me- you’re trying to say- you think you say some ghost- of a robotic teddy bear , Kaede. Because this is fucking priceless, you should see your face right now!” Kokichi was barely able to pause his laughter enough to speak, despite the scolding side look Kiyo was giving him for his teasing. (Don’t you fucking pretend I don’t see you smirking under that mask Kiyo! You’re enjoying this too aren’t you?!)

“S-shut up! You can go look for yourself then if you don’t believe me.”

“And leave you and Kiyo in his spooooky lab alone together? Ooookie-dokie! You two have fun~” (... Well fuck. Why couldn’t it be a normal museum? I can handle those! Everything here feels wrong. How many stories does this lab even have?!... Is this just for a visual pun?)

“I hardly see what you’re talking about, the setup they have here is magnificent. I haven’t the foggiest idea where on earth they could have found some of these works, I never expected I’d be able to so much as see them much less be in their presence during my lifetime.” (THAT PROVES IT’S CREEPY DAMNIT!)

As Kokichi stepped out to investigate Kaede’s “ghost bear” it was almost funny to see Kiyo flit about the room like he was a kid in a candy store. Almost. Though hearing him ramble about how there was a book with “spells” written by the sole survivor of a village, fueled by the fury behind the girl’s pen as she wrote, the incredibly heavy dog statue and cage meant for a séance from it, and a genuine katana did nothing to ease Kaede’s nerves at all. Not that he noticed in his sheer delight at everything around him.

Kokichi really should have expected to find her curled up into a ball like this, sitting on one of the seats near the bookshelves with her head on her knees, when he got back.

“Uhh, Kiyo I think you broke her. Great, now who’s gonna save us from Angie’s crazy cultists?! They even have Kirumi, we can’t compete with that! All we have is an idiot and scary people! WE’RE DOOOOMED!” Kokichi faux-sobbed with his crocodile tears again as Kiyo sighed.

“Technically we do also have one of the less incompetent and supposedly benevolent of Monokuma’s progeny, but you make a fair assessment. They also have Gonta and Tenko among them, which is also concerning as both are as strong as they are gullible I fear. Unless Kaede is back with us now of course?”

“Darn you all to heck, you horrible, horrible people” Came Kaede’s deadpanned reply, muffled by her body.

“Nope! Still broken, she can’t even curse now.”

“... Hmm, I see. Very well then, speaking of curses-” Kiyo’s words certainly got Kaede back on her feet.

“NO! NO MORE CURSES. I HEARD ENOUGH TODAY.” Too bad Kaede’s pointer finger in his face didn’t have its intended effect, as he was still more amused than anything else. She chalked it up to the height thing.

“There, that appears to have done the trick. My apologies for not seeing sooner how distressed you were becoming, I got rather overzealous you could say.” (Or you could say you were a dick, you jerk!)

“That-Is-Good-” Monodam caught the enraged glare Kaede gave him and backpedaled. “I-Mean-Not-Being-Insensitive-To-Your-Friends, That-Is-Bad. But-That-Enjoying-Your-Lab-Is-Good! Each-Was-Tailor-Made-For-You-Bastards-After-All.”

“Is that more or less creepy to hear than everything else here?” (LESS . INFINITELY LESS. Er-waitaminute.)

That did explain the selection of music in her own lab, any songs she saw that Kaede didn’t immediately recognize she still had a vague knowledge of. Like she heard of it and just hadn’t listened to them yet.

And it did indicate they were all in this place for a specific reason, to be singled out like this. But not why or what the reasoning behind this could be for. (I mean even if it looks like a prison school only maybe a handful of us seem like we’d actually belong in one, and if Kirumi’s the prime minister in all but title she shouldn’t fit. Unless she was used as a scapegoat for something? Would she remember that?)

“If such efforts were made to study and accommodate us why were we made to kill each other then? This is rather extreme for a mere social experiment, wouldn’t you say?” Kiyo asked, looking over some of his displays as he did.

“I-Can’t-Tell-You-That. Sorry. I-Could-Tell-You-Other-Things-But-Only-For-The-Killing-Game-Itself, Not Where-You-Bastards-Are. And-As-The-Killings-Should-End-Now-That-Doesn’t-Matter-Anymore.”

“I dunno~ If you have a motive for us later it could make you Monokuma wannabes at least a little useful. Might make us like you a little bit. So spill it, any other “special rules” we didn’t know about?” Kokichi said, putting the bear in something between a hold and a hug.

“Umm… There-Is-The-Tiebreaker-Rule? If-Multiple-People-Tie-For-Having-The-Most-Votes-And-The- Blackened-Is-One-Of-Them-Then-It-Counts-And-The-Spotless-Would-Be-Safe-From-Execution. It-Even- Works-With-Everyone-Only-Having-One-Vote, So-If-You-All-Agreed-To-Vote-For-Yourselves-You’d-Win!”

“I hardly believe the blackened would ever allow things to turn out in such a way. They’d simply need to lie and vote for anyone else to ensure their own survival would be guaranteed, yes?”

Monodam began bashfully poking his paws together at Kiyo's point, almost like he thought his way would have really worked. He also got a bit nervous when Kokichi brought up another motive appearing, so even without their father’s “game” apparently his cubs have something in store for them all later anyway.

When Kaede was feeling marginally better she made another attempt at looking for where Monodam’s hammer was meant to be used. Kokichi confirmed the three side doors were empty, denying seeing any ghosts or ghouls with a snicker, as he and Kiyo chose to keep her company. (To see me cry again?! Jerks.)

Monodam was trying to not so subtly lead them back towards the three doors, but instead the group went to see about Kaito’s group in the last room. Well, Kiyo and Kokichi did, as Kaede turned around and ran right back to Monodam upon seeing the blood-red hallway, much to Kokichi’s annoyance.

“Seriously Kaede?! Come on you scaredy cat get back here, we have work to do!” Kokichi called after her.

“We hardly need her for this. As Monodam is indicating this isn’t where his item needs to go why don’t we leave that to her for now? I strongly doubt this will be getting any easier on her mind quite yet.”

“It’s the principle of it! Why should we go somewhere when our “leader” won’t?! Kaede come baaack~”

Kiyo ignored Kokichi’s attempt to drag Kaede back and briefly continued along the hallway that supposedly Kaito was capable of going through, before walking back looking like he found something particularly amusing in the hallway ahead. Kaede didn’t have too long to wonder what sort of horrible thing this was foreshadowing as Kokichi pushed her onwards like she was stubborn packhorse stuck by a river.

The series of Jizo statues, decapitated and otherwise, certainly explained what Kiyo thought was so damn funny, but Kokichi and Kaede were less appreciative of the “joke” as the push shifted into more of a cling. As she tried going back again, Kokichi spun on his heel with the force behind her, but shifted their momentum to shoving her forwards instead. While the two made their mad sprint past the 8 figures Kiyo calmy trailed behind them, pausing to examine the statues and the Torii sitting across the way.

Kaede nearly ran into Kaito in her run to get anywhere but the eerie rotting red hallways around her, who she could not be more grateful to see. Since she was still soon followed by Kokichi Kaito wouldn’t be able to say the same, but since he finally got the hug he asked for before he was certainly not complaining.

“Hey there, you okay?” (NO. I have never been good at test of courage type stuff! I never want to come here again. EVER. At least the hallway here looks normal again? Is that another lab? Are we done yet?!)

As that isn’t best to admit Kaede tried salvaging what she could of this situation. “Y-yeah, it’s just a bit too… Spooky for me, you know? With… The gross wallpaper, and stuff on the ceiling, and the lighting-”

“And Kiyo with his sadistic horror fetish!” Kokichi’s voice chimed in behind her.

“And Kiyo with his- Hey wait no, you stay out of this! You made me go through there!”

“Right into Kaito’s waiting arms! You better not let Maki catch the two of you like this~”

“That could prove most troublesome, "Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, Nor hell a fury like a woman scorned". And who knows what a slighted assassin may do should her fickle feelings sour.” (Do you really have to say stuff like that here Kiyo?!... Of course you do, stupid question. Please don’t kill me Maki.)

“That’s not funny you two, knock it off!” Kaito scolded, giving both of the boys a firm look as if they all didn’t know that push come to shove either could leave him a terrified mess. “You’re here for Angie’s lab right? It’s open and everything so get move on with it. Though unlike the others this one does have locks, which might cause issues later. No idea where the keys for it are yet since we couldn’t find any inside.”

The high ceilings were weird to see be continued from the hallways around it, but the contrasting tone of the normal white fluorescent lighting was a welcome relief. At least Angie wouldn’t need to worry about art supplies or areas for her work to dry anymore, she could even probably hang stuff from the exposed beams if she had to free up floor space.

Having two different types of doors was another odd detail, considering both in Kiyo’s lab matched. But not all of the light fixtures matched either so maybe this was a preference of Angie’s, as she wasn’t here to give them any input beyond what could be seen. No Flashback Lights were in here at least, just Maki and Ryoma looking around the large workspace.

… Which meant it was likely for the best to leave and go see what Monodam was so intent on. Oh, joy.

Kaede managed to get through the disturbing trek faster this time, at a brisk walk while trying not to look around herself too much, but she had stubbed her foot on one of the Jizo heads lying on the floor in her hurry. (And now we know those things are heavy, even though they’re round it barely budged. OWWW!)

Kaito at least was with her this time, which made for much more pleasant company as he wasn’t faring much better than she was as far as nerves were concerned in these hopefully not-so-haunted hallways. She thought it for the best to not point out other rooms on this floor might not be able to have the title. It was getting easier to get used to this now at least, which was little comfort but a comfort nonetheless.

Monodam was sitting on the floor pulling at his feet with his paws until he saw them return, quick to get to his feet and pull them towards the painted glass at the end of the hallway. He nearly threw his hammer at them trying to “hint” to them how exactly they were meant to solve this “riddle”.

Pushy little brat isn’t he? Cuter than the yellow one at least, since he is trying to make himself useful. Sibling murder notwithstanding of course.

Kaito did what he wanted though, and through the shattered glass another hallway could be seen. Still a creepy hallway in its own way, but this one looked more high tech. Tubes and exposed stainless steel floors almost feeling like they’d be better suited to a spaceship than a school.

The door they found at the end had a light with the words “Computer Room” above it, and when they approached the unusual locks sprang to life to open for them. (Must be motion activated or something then, weird to see here.)

This room was massive, nearly if not as big as the labs on this floor were already, and had it not been called the “Computer Room” already Kaede wouldn’t have known what to make of the large cube in the center of the space, surrounded by monitors. (Right, technically computers are those tower things, not the screens aren’t they? But I’ve never seen one this big! I didn’t even know cables came in that size.)

Kaito let out a low whistle as he took everything in and Monodam explained this was for the latest incarnation of the “Neo-World Program”, a simulated world people could enter if they wanted to. (Miu probably would have had a field day with this thing if she were here… But then that could have just lead to her trying to kill someone anyway, couldn’t it? In a world where she’d know the rules better than us.)

But of more of their direct concern was the treasure chest to the left of it. One that looked just like the one with the previous Flashback Light the time before. Kaede made a beeline for it and took the precious clue to what was going on with her and her friends, putting it in her backpack for safe keeping.

She told Kaito to gather everyone on this floor and meet up later as she headed to find Angie’s group.

Best to have everyone regroup in the Dining Hall to see what we’ll be doing with this. It’s as good a time as any to see what they’ve found so far too.

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[lore-a-lie]

Chapter 2, Act 2: Lessons of the Gymnopedia

Daily Life

Kaede found them all outside, which Monosuke wasn’t pleased about at all. Despite his earlier implications he was going to make this process as difficult as he could the Ninja Scroll still found its place in what was either the masked ninja’s mask or mouth.

Gonta looked rather guilty upon seeing Kaede, but before she could find out why she was being pulled along by Tenko who was eager to show off her own lab that had recently sprung from the scenery.

It was a welcome relief to see some traditional architecture that wasn’t at all related to Kiyo’s lab. Not that Kaede wasn’t still trying to get her memories of it out of her head.

Or that the kitsune mask the ninja statue wore was an unwelcome reminder of the one of a similar style Kiyo had in one of his cases near a cutesy mask he claimed had some connection to a brutal serial killer who targeted murderers. Nope, definitely not still traumatized by that extended lesson.

Not to say the Ultimate Aikido Master’s lab wasn’t still weird, between the large wooden fighting doll in the back and the odd hanging platforms. Kaede assumed this was related to Tenko’s spin on the art as opposed to being needed for the actual fighting style. (Which fits what was said about these all being made for us rather than our talents. Only Tenko and her Master know what Neo-Aikido even is.)

“Look Kaede, isn’t this awesome?! I could give you some lessons here later if you’d like, you may need them given the type of menaces you keep wasting your precious time on. Actually, that’s a great idea, I should give all the girls here some lessons for self-defense, thanks Kaede!” (... But I didn’t say anything?)

“Maybe another time, things with the fourth floor left me rather… Uh, drained? But thank you for the offer, it could be pretty useful. I’m not sure you should be limiting it to just the girls again though.”

Tenko got that look on her face like she was impersonating an insulted dead fish. “... Fine. Kaito maybe. Kibo probably, even if his flexibility is awful  and his weight could make things awkward. And while Gonta doesn’t need it he might still be fun to teach. But that’s it! It doesn’t matter how small and punchable he is, Kokichi is off the table! Kiyo too, because I don’t ever want to be in a room alone with that guy. Gives me some bad vibes.” (That’s fair.)

“Then what’s wrong with Ryoma? He’s been a pretty nice guy, and it might be easier for you to train him, Kaito, and Maki at once since I think they already do something similar together sometimes.”

“... I’m… Not sure I’d really want to teach Maki this either… But Ryoma’s a killer too! Why would I want to teach him any of my precious Neo-Aikido?! And even if I did how would I even demonstrate for a person that size? That’d be too much hassle for me, and like Gonta and Maki he doesn’t really need my help.”

There was little point in arguing against that, and Angie came bouncing in anyway to see what was going on putting a halt to that conversation. Monophanie was waddling along after her, like a duckling following its mother, as Kaede focused back on why she came.

“Hey, hey~ What’re you two doing in here huh? Has Kaede taken an interest in joining Atua’s efforts?”

“Efforts? I mean I came by since we found a Flashback Light in the computer room that opened up with the new labs. Also, yours is one of the two that opened Angie! It's just down the hall from Kiyo’s, so location aside I hope you’ll enjoy it. We just thought it might be good to regroup in the dining hall if you’re all done exploring too, to trade notes and see what we’ll do about the light. If that’s okay with everyone?”

Angie’s disposition shifted again, as if taking things more seriously for the moment to think, before going back to her bubbly bouncy persona. “Hmm, That will probably be for the best, for now, we are just about done here. It will be good to establish some new rules too. Kibo, Kirumi, and Tsumugi are likely already on their way there anyway, since they had nothing else to do around here since only Tenko’s lab appeared. So let’s all get going, C'mon, C'mon!” (New rules? For the killing game, like Monodam gave?)

When Kaede got there with Angie and Tenko everyone else was back and ready to talk about their discoveries. General information about all of the labs was shared, and Angie for her credit wasn’t the least bit disturbed by her new floormate or the descriptions of the area around her lab.

Gonta looks like he wanted to talk about something, likely the reason for the guilty expression from before, but the looks from Angie and her cultists was enough to convince him to keep quiet. So things moved onto the discussion of rules, and the tiebreaker scenario Monodam explained. But he wasn’t the only cub trying to endear themselves to the students they clung to in their efforts to solve their fighting.

Monophanie had indeed told Kirumi about another rule of the killing game that had yet to be touched on, regarding body discoveries. Even if the class strongly suspected a missing student was killed, until the requirement regarding students finding and bearing witness to the corpse was met everything would continue to act as if they weren’t dead.

Kibo apparently also pushed the issue and had her concede that even if everyone knew where a body was, without witnesses beyond the killer to “prove” someone was dead the game would continue to proceed as if they were still alive, like a twisted Schrodinger’s cat.

As there weren’t any rules about hiding or destroying bodies the implications of this rule were very concerning. Particularly since the killer themselves would never count as a witness to help get a case started in the first place. (No one knew what happened to the bodies of our other friends either really.)

But it was time to decide on what to do with the Flashback Light. Angie was against it, so Tenko, Kibo, and Gonta followed her lead, but Kirumi and Tsumugi’s curiosity won out to avoid a stalemate. There were too many mysteries that outweighed any risks using it could cause.

The Ultimate Hunt, the purpose of the Killing Game, why they hadn’t been found yet, even where this place was right now were dangerous unknowns that needed to be solved. (If they aren’t how are we supposed to ever get out and go home? Will we all even have homes to get back to? Can the lights return that hope to us those motives took?)

Despite Angie’s warnings to give up hope on leaving this place Kaede flicked the switch and the world around her warped once more. But not to one that made any sense.

Everyone had their own memorial photos, just like those that appear during the trials but with more color to them. This had to be a funeral ceremony, but for all 16 of them at once. People could be heard talking about an accident the occurred while Kaede and her classmates were all trying to escape from some group, but she didn’t know them or understood what this was meant to mean.

All this did was leave them with more questions. The way everyone spoke indicated they all shared this same “memory”, despite none of them being present for it. (Why even call it a Flashback Light if it isn’t tied to our specific memories? What are we supposed to do with this information? Or at all at this point.)

Monodam and Monophanie looked between themselves and the arguing students, as theories ranging from everyone being dead in some sort of purgatory high school or the memories being taken out of context like merely being part of a school play. Nothing was matching up, and every idea tossed around was soon shown to have more holes in it than swiss cheese when the group considered it.

Only Monosuke was enjoying the discord sewn by the newest batch of worthless memories, much like his father did, while his siblings had a nervous energy about them as they began planning something.

When it was agreed that nothing about the memories made sense the group decided to take a break to cool down and clear their heads best they could. Angie was oddly silent during the discussion but upon the dismissal, she made a beeline for assumably her lab, arms spread out to the side like an angled airplane.

Kaede instead resumed her silly self-given goal of finding all the Monokuma dolls she could. It was nice having a goal like that to reach, like a scavenger hunt, since after the first trial she already saw a bear that wasn’t there the day before. (And definitely has nothing to do with getting teddy bears to express any frustrations felt towards the monster they are based on. Or finding them cute on their own merits.)

It was a pleasant surprise to find one of these dancing dolls in her own lab, the pink winged figure making overblown leaps in front of her piano. And also rather creepy as she had no way of knowing if this doll was placed here because Monokuma (or his cubs) noticed her morbid little collection, but she tried to ignore those implications as she stashed the toy inside her bag and continued her search outside the school.

Until she overheard a conversation being held near the Shrine of Judgement, past her newest fluffy acquisition found on the stairs leading to it. Her curiosity quickly got the better of her as she tried to slip inside to better listen in on what her fellow students were talking about.

Downsides of having hearing as good as mine I guess, it’s easy to unintentionally listen in on others which I know is kinda rude. Also an upside for when it helps me learn of any fun gossipy stuff I’d be too out of touch to catch otherwise~

“My condolences Ryoma, I know all too well the pain that comes with such a loss.”

“Thanks. I wasn’t really expecting you to understand either. Just because of how…”

“I’m too unsettling for someone to care for in such a way? It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve heard that.” (“Care for in such a way”? What is Kiyo talking about? Is this about their motive videos again?)

“No. How young we all are. It’s weird enough to really get a serious girlfriend this early in life, much less lose them so soon.”

Wait, what, they're talking about girls? THESE two guys of all people had girlfriends already?! I’ve never even been on a date yet! … At least I don’t think I’ve ever been on one. I’ve hung out with guys before I guess, did that count? But what do they mean by “losing them”? They can’t mean...

“Polite of you to say so, but I think your lie is obvious. I suppose in a sense we’ve both been lucky, yes?”

“Strange sort of luck that would need to be. She’d still be alive and content back in America had she never met me.” (Oh… Ouch. Wonder what he means by that, was there an accident? How’d he even meet an American girl? Was she like... normal height or also tiny like him? How different was he before?)

“Do you think she would have been happier had that been case? Every meeting is a once in a lifetime interaction, life is but a series of chance encounters and farewells. Hardly a reason to blame yourself for embracing a golden opportunity. Sorrowful as a leaving may be it changes not the beauty that came before it. There can be a beauty to be found in even the darkest of times if one tries to look.”

“... You might be the most messed up type of optimist I’ve ever heard of, you know that?”

“Kehehe, is that so? An optimist am I, that’s how you chose to see me?”

“Sounds a lot better than calling you a masochist, trying to find anything good out of pain.”

“So better to sound civil than risk calling a spade a spade I take it? How considerate of you.”

“Okay, when you get like this you really can’t blame a guy for being confused why a girl would like you.”

The bluntness of the response only led to more of Kiyo’s laughter, at the indirect admittance of his earlier assessment. “I suppose that will remain my little secret then.”

“Seriously? Nothing? Not a single clue after you got me sharing? Not cool man.” (But Ryoma's still smiling~)

“Just because you answered my questions doesn’t mean you’re entitled to me responding to your own. It’s terribly uncouth for one to “kiss and tell”, wouldn’t you say?”

“Or you just made her up to get me to talk, you seem like the sort of guy who’d do that.” Ryoma’s words were said in a joking tone to Kaede, still hiding nearby, but Kiyo was insulted by the notion regardless.

“Then that is where you’d be completely wrong, even for the purpose of study to lie about such a thing is a line I wouldn’t choose to cross. Far too serious a matter to abuse it in such a way, which is precisely why matters of the heart are not meant to be merely spoken of with others in the first place.” (The big twist here is that Kiyo has been a romantic this whole time? Whaaat? That’s one I didn’t see coming.)

“I dunno, sounds like something a stalker might say.” Ryoma snarked with a smirk. But Kiyo was adjusting better to his sense of humor as he played along with the lighthearted jab better this time.

“I assure you while there may have been allegations and restraining orders in my past they are all completely unrelated to the topic at hand. Those were merely results of miscommunication in regards to my appearance and... tendency to perhaps overindulge in the art of “people watching” outside of fieldwork.” (Ah, okay, thank goodness something here makes sense. Everything is still right with the world.)

Kiyo took the moment to pause for Ryoma’s laughter, which was a rare occurrence to hear his deep chuckle. “Honestly Ryoma, I’m rather hurt you’d accuse me of stalking when Kaede has been spying on our conversation since she caught wind of the word “condolences”. Tell me, has your curiosity been sated yet, or will it take a bit longer for satisfaction to bring this particular cat back?” (WAIT WHAT?! Oh shit, how’d he notice?! And what is he talking about? If you’re going to mess with me make sense first!)

The candy cig actually fell out of his mouth when Ryoma turned around to see Kaede awkwardly squatting behind one of the stone flower pots, blushing hard enough to nearly match their roses now that her cover was completely blown.

After the shock, he displayed his expression went to one used by so many parents before him. He wasn’t mad at her, just disappointed. Unlike Kiyo who hid any possible annoyance felt rather well. His obvious enjoyment caused by pulling the rug out from under her, not so much.

“I, uhh… Sorry! It was originally an accident honest! I’ve always had excellent hearing, but…”

“But you just couldn’t resist some good ol’ teen drama bullshit, could you?” Ryoma asked, rubbing at his forehead as Kaede bashfully nodded.

“I didn’t mean to, I just thought it was unusual to see the two of you hanging out, I’m so sorry.”

“There is truth to this, our conversation began only due to Kokichi’s most recent set of antics. He still hasn’t settled on what role of a jester he should be playing since his more malevolent persona fell apart. He supposedly wasn’t lying about his intent to make an event in protest to Tenko’s poolside shenanigans, as he requested Kaito, Ryoma, and I to join him at the Casino later tonight. Given Kaito’s personality, I am inclined to believe Maki may be in attendance as well, given she wasn’t a part of Tenko’s group before from what I gather. Would you care to join us?” (I’ll just not mention I was a part of Tenko’s party then.)

“Sure, I guess? I haven’t really been there much since it didn’t look like many of the games were working yet but it might be fun to be there with a group. But what about Gonta and Kibo?”

“When we asked before he said “no traitors allowed”, since Gonta ended up joining Angie and Kibo was at the girl’s thing before, so he’s just being a brat again. Probably anyway. Who even knows with this guy?”

“Well that’s good for youse guys but all this bullshit’s gonna hafta wait a bit. We have ourselves another nice little present for you bastards out in the gym, and you don’t want us and our Exisals to cause any trouble you better get down there ASAP. No delays, no excuses, vah menos!”

And as suddenly as Monosuke appeared to give the three those orders he was gone, toddling off in the direction of the school. But with little room or reason to object they swiftly followed him, joining everyone else waiting for the monokub’s newest motive. (Why do this if most want to end the game?)

The crowd in the gym again had itself become neatly divided with Angie’s group near the left wall while Kaito, Kokichi, and Maki waited for Kaede and the others along the right-hand side. Too bad Angie and Kaito were arguing again closer to the middle, likely encouraging keeping everyone divided this way, while Monophanie and Monodam kept turning to look at whoever was speaking as if they were watching a particularly intense game of tennis. Well, Monophanie turned, Monodam’s head swiveled.

“Atua says there is no place for murderers in a peaceful academy life like we should strive to have. Ryoma and Maki have too many ties to the horrors of death to simply roam unchecked.”

“And I say that's a load of crap and you know it! What you have us do, lock them up over something they ain’t fuckin’ gonna do in the first goddamn place?! Ryoma already paid for his crimes, and you can’t just going around judging either of them like this!” Kaito shouted, while Kirumi tried to argue for this idea.

“This could be as much as a help to their safety as it is for the rest of us, as if they are supervised then no one else would have the opportunity to attack them out of a misplaced sense of paranoia.”

“Speaking for yourself there?" Kokichi chimed in, to Kirumi's obvious displeasure. "Would you also be one of the people that would be “supervised” after your own little stunt against Ryoma? I’d be more than happy to keep an eye on my mom if you want me to~”

“Of course not, she’s also a member of the student council! She may have lost her temper before but she’s better now, and she’s in agreement with the rest of us so she’s not a danger to anyone at all.” Tenko argued, not that Kokichi was buying anything as he gave her and Kirumi skeptical but nonplussed looks.

“Hey, everyone let’s settle down. What are you talk-” Kaede tried to ask, before the Monosuke decided to take control of the situation instead.

“Listen up ya chumps, let’s get right down to business! ‘Cuz we’ve got anotha great motive for you all.”

“It won’t matter, nothing you can do will make us participate in your killing game anymore. We have Atua to help guide us now.” (Good god Kibo you really have been drinking the kool-aid haven’t you?)

“You-Misunderstand, That-Is-Not-What-This-Motive-Is-For!”

“What are you talking about? A scary motive like this was left behind by Daddy, so of course it can be used to help with the killing game if Monosuke wants it to.”

“That’s-Not-Why-I-Agreed-To-It. This-Is-A-Motive-That-Can-Bring-Everyone-Closer-Together! Because-It- Can-Return-A-Friend-The-Game-Took-Away-From-Us-All-Before.”

“Us all”? Not “You all”? I thought he and Monophanie only started hanging out with us because they were fighting with Monosuke. Is he really trying to “be friends” with us now because of the problems with him and his siblings? Why do that?

“Can it, ya tin can! That isn’t how this’ll work you hear me?! So listen up you fucks and listen good! This here motive is no mere book ya’know. It’ll be the most terrifying shit you’ve ever seen. Because what we got right here is the groundwork to get you all a new “transfer student”... Of a sort. Right Monophanie?” Monosuke began to explain with a snicker as he passed the duty to his sister like a twisted set of show announcers.

“Of course Monosuke! Because the place they’ll be “transferring” from is Beyond The Grave ~ Isn’t that just the most fear-inducing thing you’ve ever heard?! You’ll be able to resurrect one of the four people who have died in this killing game back to life, to welcome them back into the class.”

“Correct! But-This-Will-Only-Work-On-One-Of-The-Four. We’re-Sorry. You-Will-Understand-Why-When- You-Read- How-It-Works-In-The-Necronomicon-We-Will-Provide-For-You. But-” Monodam tried to add, wanting to be a part of this two as his siblings made no attempt to include him, but he was quickly shot down.

“But nothin’! And no “sorries” neither, this is a fuckin’ gift to you all, so you bastards better be grateful. So you gotta choose carefully you schmucks, ‘cuz you only have this one chance. And who even knows what your student of choice will be like. Same as they were before, like nothin’ happened to ‘em in the first place? Gross ass zombies still fucked up from how they died? Somethin’ in between? Or maybe they’ll be like someone completely new, who fuckin’ knows?! Won’t that be a blast to find out, huh?”

What?

This can’t be real.

They can’t be serious.

This can’t be happening.

Could I really talk to Shuichi again?

Everyone else seemed to be having similar thoughts as the Monokubs derailed themselves yet again, Monophanie objecting over how she was never told how “icky” the transfer student could be. So the fact they genuinely don’t know what will come of this appeared to be honest at the very least, and if not this being the first she’s heard of it does incline one to think the student will be returned to the class hale and whole. (Even if that may just be wishful thinking on my part. But this doesn’t sound like something a resurrection manual would just leave out, unless the cubs didn’t even bother reading all of it.)

“There’s no way bringing back the dead could really be possible… Right?” Tsumugi quietly asked.

“R-Right, ‘course it isn’t! They’re just being stupid to rile us up, no way in hell it’s possible!”

Kaito insisted, much to Tenko’s displeasure.

“Hey! Aren’t you the degenerate who likes to claim the “impossible is possible”? Why are you changing your tune now, huh?! This could bring Himiko back, you coward!”

To that, Kiyo was the first to make his objection. “Now I may be one inclined to doubt a skepticism born from the hubris that often comes with a purely scientific background but I must concur with Kaito. While many cultures around the globe may have indeed made their own twists on rituals made to grant safe passage for a soul from one life onto the next to one instead meant to bring a person back from whatever “afterlife” they believe in, none have ever truly succeeded in such a lofty goal. And if merely communicating with someone who has been lost to us is what would be desired from using their suspect methods, we already had the means of contacting any departed spirit in my own lab which would be a more trustworthy alternative.”

“Uhh, wait a sec, aren’t you contradicting yourself there? And I’m not sure “trustworthy” would be the word you’re looking for.” (Like you can be one to talk Kokichi. Stupid jerk. Both of you.)

“Not at all, a spirit needs a vessel to best communicate, and no ritual exists that can bring back the flesh of the departed in such a way to sustain it to a point one could call it “life”. A soul might be given a temporary medium or even “haunt” a particular person or object so they can continue to interact with this world, and that could be seen as returning from the great beyond to some extent, but never in a way that leaves any of the parties involved properly satisfied. Nothing like what is being suggested-”

But thankfully before Kiyo could get more into his rant Maki cut him off.

“Then that’s fine, no need to go into it more than that. If even the closest thing we could have to an occultist specialist doesn’t believe it could be possible then the idiot must be right for once. No more need for discussion. We don’t need to go around needlessly humoring dangerous motives anymore-”

“Is it only natural for one so quick to end the lives of others be as quick to rule out bringing them back?”

Maki’s glare was enough to nearly chill the room, already feeling cooler than it should as the subject was giving everyone goosebumps, but Kirumi took her anger head on while barely batting a lash.

“Atua agrees with Tenko and Kiyo. It wouldn’t really be so strange for this to be possible in an Eden such as this.” And with that said Angie’s people were all ears, which helped to keep the tensions between the assassin and maid from escalating any further. “Nyahaha! Come now, everything in this new world of ours is odd enough isn’t it? How can we even really know the ones we believe are “dead” really are? Their bodies get taken from us so quickly, “crime scenes” cleaned up so thoroughly as if nothing had happened, and even “executions” so over the top that it just couldn’t be possible, right?  So far past any suspension of disbelief that all of this must surely be impossible, shouldn’t it?" She asked, but they felt more like rhetorical questions than anything else.

At the silence of the others considering her words gave her to the opportunity, she continued. "Atua surely thinks so. For Atua knows our dead can be “returned” to us even if “resurrection” is indeed impossible. Because no one is really dead here. They never were.” (But that’s not possible! We checked the bodies. Not me specifically, but Shuichi, Korekiyo, and Maki would have all surely noticed this! ... Right?)

“Do you honestly believe a mere imitation could capture the sensation of a warm body growing cold? Surely you jest. And even if my own assessment of Himiko’s condition was admittedly amateurish then Maki would have easily caught such a massive discrepancy with a background such as her own, yes?” Korekiyo retorted, echoing Kaede’s own thoughts. But something about what he said made Kokichi stare blankly at him for a moment, before recovering enough to return to his cheshire cat grin. Had it been any faster Kaede isn’t sure she would have even noticed the brief change, or catch the colder look in his eyes.

“We can’t prove they aren’t at any rate, look at the levels of technology the existence of Monokuma, the Monokubs, and the Exisals shows this place has access to. Even if the murder victims were real then a means of saving them before the point of no return may have indeed been possible, and they are the only bodies Maki has ever been close enough to check.”

But even if we didn’t see Miu’s body, we saw Shuichi’s. He was shot- er stabbed?- through the head. He was moving before the blow landed, we never lost sight of him in that horrible room, and there couldn’t be any way to recover from a brain injury like that if nothing else right? T-that had to be real. No matter how much we wished it wasn’t. Or how often.

“But wasn’t the basis of wanting Angie to lead in order to avoid doing what the game wanted by using the motives Monokuma and his cubs gave us like I encouraged before? Is it really okay for you to change tunes like this because this one would be more convenient for all of us if it’s true? I… I want you to be right Angie. Honest, I do. It’d be great if everyone was still alive safe somewhere else, away from here. But we’ve been burned before, and I don’t want a repeat of that. Please let’s just think things through.”

Kaede’s point did raise some debate. This had turned Angie’s initial point on its head, but the bond of the cult, their “faith” in her and by extension Atua, was strong enough to ignore the hypocrisy at play.

“It doesn’t matter in end, student council still able to protect everyone! And Angie our good president. And she says motive to save student won’t be used to hurt anyone. If book says rescuing not-really-dead friends mean other friends need to be hurt to work then we won’t listen to book, promise. No worries!” Gonta claimed with a comforting smile and absolute confidence.

“So that’s what this is Gonta? A “Student Council” to end the killing game?” Kaede asked.

“Yup! So Kaede no worry no more. No more killings happen, that why Gonta and Tenko here! We enforce rules Atua makes so people no get hurt or hurt each other again. No more disagreements.”

“So you think that gives you the right to just set this up under everyone’s noses? Like we’d ever agree to this. All this will lead to is either more disagreements or Angie trying to set herself up as a tyrant Gonta.”

Ryoma spoke up with a level head, and Gonta looked taken aback by this. But it was likely a good thing Ryoma said something first as Kokichi looked nearly seething at what was going on. Not intentionally either, as Keade saw him try to fall back onto his smiling mask from the corner of her eye, trying to keep herself from drawing attention to him.

No one else noticed it, as he was near the back of the crowd while Kiyo took to rambling on about the nature of cults and the reasons why they form in places like this, giving him time to re-adjust. And when he did he cheerily went along with Kiyo’s rant in order to highlight the means of Angie’s manipulations. Even though he should know they wouldn’t listen.

So I was right. He’s not okay with this either, hell he’s even more bothered by how Angie’s doing this than I honestly am. This just means we have to find another way of bringing us all back together.

“Please everyone, let’s just calm down-”

“Indeed, no need for anyone to worry at all! The student council will take care of the resurrection ritual so no one else has to worry about anything. Atua will decide what we will do with it at a later time.”

And with that Angie gladly took the book from Monosuke’s eager paws and tightly held it to her chest as she began skipping away from the conversation. It’s not like there would have been reasoning with her anyway.

Kaito looked nearly as sick as Kaede felt over things ending on a note like that but there was nothing else that could be done so everyone began to disperse. Kaede took another look around the campus for monokuma dolls to try and lose the ache in her chest before trying to go to the Casino.

She had found another before nighttime began, but it came with its own unwelcome discovery. The little bear was just sitting in the boiler room that led to their best possible exit, but it wasn’t like before.

The manhole cover was put snugly back into place and covered in large rocks so no one could try to attempt to remove it again. It was all too heavy for this to be a mistake, but at the same time, it hadn’t been moved before Himiko… Before the second trial was held. So while it could be a Monokub’s doing with their Exisals that may not be the case.

Was this why Gonta looked guilty before? Was this Angie’s plan? Why can’t she understand staying isn’t an option?! Rantaro died to prove this fact to us already! If he hadn’t we all would have. Except for the mastermind and maybe anyone else who might not have been “forced” to play this killing game.

At least she’ll be able to bring this up to Kokichi or Kaito after the get-together. Even if she told everyone at the Casino what happened it’s unlikely any of them would be able to lift the manhole cover to fix it.

No need to ruin Kokichi’s bit of harmless fun, everyone needs as much levity in this awful place as they can get. It’s what will keep everyone together, and in the process make bonds to help protect them. (Even if that sort of planning hasn’t really worked for us yet. It’s the best idea I can come up with here.)

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